mutations

Cultural  

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.

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Example Sentences

Specifically, Rajnarayanan said, this mutation’s significant antigenic drift, which is when the genes of a virus change, is “a real concern.”

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2025

Using their new method, the researchers introduced p53 mutations in human lung adenocarcinoma cells, then measured the survival rates of these cells, allowing them to determine each mutation's effect on cell fitness.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2024

It was the mutation’s first known appearance in the community in Australia, and officials moved quickly.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2021

The authors discuss the possibility that this dominance resulted from the mutation’s transmissibility.

From Slate • May 7, 2020

To confirm the mutation's effect, his team engineered it into egg-laying worms, which then bore live young.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 28, 2018