Meaning & use
mutation
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablebiology
A permanent change in an organism's genetic material that can be passed on to offspring.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a' or in the plural. Often followed by 'in'.
Patterns
- a mutation in a gene
- cause a mutation
- carry a mutation
A mutation in the BRCA1 gene can increase the risk of certain cancers.
Some mutations are harmless, while others cause genetic disorders.
The virus accumulates mutations over time, making it harder to treat.
nouncountable
A significant and unexpected change in the form or nature of something.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'of' to show what changes.
Patterns
- a mutation of something
- a mutation in something
The company underwent a mutation in its business model after the crisis.
The political system experienced a sudden mutation in the 1990s.
Word forms
| plural | mutations |
|---|
Common combinations
- genetic mutation
- Genetic mutations can lead to new traits in a species.
- spontaneous mutation
- Spontaneous mutations occur without any external cause.
- carry a mutation
- She carries a mutation that affects her metabolism.
- mutation rate
- The mutation rate of the virus is unusually high.
Synonyms and how they differ
- alteration
- More general; refers to any change, not specifically genetic.
- change
- Broad and neutral; does not imply a biological or sudden shift.
- variation
- Often refers to differences within a group, not a permanent genetic change.
Word family
- mutate verb
- To undergo or cause a genetic change.
- mutant noun
- An organism that has a mutation.
- mutant adjective
- Resulting from or showing a mutation.
- mutational adjective
- Relating to mutation.
- mutability noun
- The quality of being able to change.
Commonly confused: mutation or mutability? mutation or mutiny?
mutation vs mutability
Mutability is the general ability to change; a mutation is a specific change, especially in genes.
mutation vs mutiny
Mutiny is a rebellion, especially by sailors or soldiers, not a biological change.
Practice
The _____ in the gene caused the protein to be nonfunctional.
Choose one answer.
A mutation is a specific genetic change, which fits the context of a nonfunctional protein. 'Mutability' is the general ability to change; 'mutiny' is a rebellion; 'mutational' is an adjective and cannot be the subject here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mutation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.