mutation
UK/mju:'teiʃәn/US
IELTSTOEFLC1
Definitions
n.
A heritable change in the DNA sequence of a gene or chromosome.
突变；基因或染色体 DNA 序列中可遗传的改变。
n.
Any significant change in form, structure, or nature.
（任何）显著的变化、变异。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmuta- (from mūtāre, to change) + -tion (act/result) = 'a changing.' Originally any alteration, it was adopted by genetics for a heritable change in DNA. When a gene mutates, the result is a mutation — a new, slightly different version.
Root mut still carries 6 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.genetic mutation基因突变
- 2.random mutation随机突变
- 3.gene mutation基因突变
- 4.carry a mutation携带某突变
- 5.spontaneous mutation自发突变
Example Sentences
- 1.
A single mutation in the gene can cause the disease.
- 2.
Scientists are tracking new mutations in the virus.
- 3.
The software update introduced an unexpected mutation in the data.