mutation

noun mu·ta·tion \myü-ˈtā-shən\

biology : a change in the genes of a plant or animal that causes physical characteristics that are different from what is normal

: a new form of something that has changed

Full Definition of MUTATION

: a significant and basic alteration : change

: umlaut

a : a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes; also : the process of producing a mutation

b : an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation

— mu·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

— mu·ta·tion·al·ly adverb

See mutation defined for English-language learners

See mutation defined for kids

First Known Use of MUTATION

14th century

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with MUTATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, sensation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation

MUTATIONAL Defined for Kids

mutation

noun mu·ta·tion \myü-ˈtā-shən\

Definition of MUTATION for Kids

: a change in a gene or the resulting new trait it produces in an individual

Medical Dictionary

mutation

noun mu·ta·tion \myü-ˈtā-shən\

Medical Definition of MUTATION

: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes; also : the process of producing a mutation

: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation

—mu·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shən-^əl\ adjective

—mu·ta·tion·al·ly \-ē\ adverb