mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən 
1
: a significant and basic alteration : change
2
: umlaut
3
a
: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material that involves either a change in chromosome structure or number (as in translocation, deletion, duplication, or polyploidy) or a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene's codons (as in frameshift or missense errors) and that occurs either in germ cells or in somatic cells but with only those in germ cells being capable of perpetuation by sexual reproduction
Mutations known to cause disease have been identified in approximately 1000 genes.—
Alan E. Guttmacher and Francis S. Collins
Alan E. Guttmacher and Francis S. Collins
also
: the process of producing a mutation
Microorganisms have been used extensively to study mutation … —George A. Wistreich et al.
George A. Wistreich et al.
b
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
The worst E. coli bacterium, E. coli 0157:H, a mutation discovered in 1982 that has at least sixty-two subtypes, causes hemorrhagic colitis …—Wayne Biddle
Wayne Biddle
mutationally
adverb
Examples of mutation in a Sentence
The cat's short tail is the result of mutation.
The condition is caused by a genetic mutation.
The building is a mutation of the original design.
Recent Examples on the Web
If the mutations accumulate slowly, symptoms might not arrive until their 50s, 60s or beyond.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
With this new study, the research team was trying to determine if these outliers were a result of mutations caused by the fallout of the Chornobyl disaster.
—Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
The mutation was also seen in a critically ill Canadian teen hospitalized in November.
—New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2025
In another troubling finding, one of the mutations identified in the Louisiana patient also turned up in a viral sample taken from a teenager with a severe case of bird flu in British Columbia.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mutation 
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show current usage.
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Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
With this new study, the research team was trying to determine if these outliers were a result of mutations caused by the fallout of the Chornobyl disaster.
—Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
The mutation was also seen in a critically ill Canadian teen hospitalized in November.
—New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2025
In another troubling finding, one of the mutations identified in the Louisiana patient also turned up in a viral sample taken from a teenager with a severe case of bird flu in British Columbia.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mutation
Dictionary Entries Near mutation
Cite this Entry
“Mutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutation. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən
1
: a basic and important change
2
a
: a permanent change in hereditary material involving either a change in the position of the genes on the chromosomes or a basic change in the chemical structure of a gene
also
: the process of producing a mutation
b
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
Medical Definition
mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən
1
: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material that involves either a change in chromosome structure or number (as in translocation, deletion, duplication, or polyploidy) or a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene's codons (as in frameshift or missense errors) and occurs either in germ cells or in somatic cells but with only those in germ cells being capable of perpetuation by sexual reproduction
also
: the process of producing a mutation
2
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
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