mosaicism

[moh-zey-uh-siz-uhm]

noun

Biology.

1. a condition in which an organism or part is composed of two or more genetically distinct tissues owing to experimental manipulation or to faulty distribution of genetic material during mitosis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mosaicism¹

First recorded in 1925–30; mosaic + -ism

Example Sentences

This results in what is called "mosaicism," where genetically different cells occur within one individual.

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“Somatic mosaicism is likely playing a role” in these conditions, D’Gama says.

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This mix of cell lines is called mosaicism.

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A first pregnancy is questioned when test results indicate abnormal chromosomes — mosaicism — in the unborn child.

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But out of eight embryos edited using CRISPR, Rebrikov’s team found evidence of mosaicism in only three of them at the blastocyst stage, when they are 5 days old and have about 250 cells.

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