mutations

1. Changes in chromosomes or genes that cause offspring to have characteristics different from those of their parents. Mutations can be caused by the effects of chemicals, radiation , or even ordinary heat on DNA . Mutations produce some of the differences between members of a species on which natural selection acts.

Example Sentences

I love seeing memes take off and spark mutations and parodies and homages.

From The Daily Beast

This means that their gene pools stagnate and accumulate increasingly harmful mutations.

From The Daily Beast

Over time, researchers were able to link many of these disorders with mutations in single genes.

From The Daily Beast

Throughout the process the program throws in random changes in a command or variable— these are mutations.

From The Daily Beast

A student has the freedom to write a paper that points out that highly complex life may not be explained by chance mutations.

From The Daily Beast

He found that new species of plants and animals arise suddenly by "mutations" or steps.

From Project Gutenberg

Epistolary forms and fashions have had their mutations like all other human things.

From Project Gutenberg

Such is the vicissitude of human affairs, that within a few years many strange mutations occur, even in places of no great extent.

From Project Gutenberg

However, all the mutations so increasingly discernible in village life did not originate entirely in the agricultural unrest.

From Project Gutenberg

A gigantic satire upon the mutations of his nymph during the past twenty years seemed looming in the distance.

From Project Gutenberg