mutations
DNA copying errors
Mutations are changes to an organism's genetic material—alterations in DNA that can be inherited or arise spontaneously.
Most mutations are neutral or harmful, but occasionally one confers an advantage and spreads through a population.
Outside biology, mutation refers to any significant change or transformation: The company underwent several mutations before finding its current form.
In popular culture, especially comics and science fiction, mutations often grant extraordinary abilities.
Mutant superhero collective
- mutantGenetically altered organism
- superheroPowered champion against evil
- MarvelSuperhero media conglomerate
- sci-fiFuturistic fiction, abbreviated
horror · monster · transformation · powers · abilities · radioactive · dystopian · GMO
Gene variant at one locus
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- nucleotideGenetic code subunit
chromosome · gene · replication · transcription · translation · polymerase · locus · recombination
Formation of distinct species
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
fitness · phenotype · heritable · advantageous · deleterious · polymorphism · bottleneck · homology
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- oncogeneTumor-inducing genetic element
- carcinomaEpithelial malignant tumor
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
lymphoma · pathogenic · Huntington's · BRCA · hereditary · congenital · germline · somatic
Energy propagation through space
- mutagenAgent causing genetic change
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- inducedBrought about deliberately
- lethalCausing or capable of death
viable · conditional · knockout · transgenic · Drosophila · bacterial · viral · resistance
X-Men
Mutant superhero collective
- mutantGenetically altered organism
- superheroPowered champion against evil
- MarvelSuperhero media conglomerate
sci-fi · horror · monster · transformation · powers · abilities · radioactive · dystopian · GMO · Frankenstein
allele
Gene variant at one locus
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- DNAHereditary code molecule
nucleotide · chromosome · gene · replication · transcription · translation · polymerase · locus · recombination · meiosis
speciation
Formation of distinct species
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
survival · fitness · phenotype · heritable · advantageous · deleterious · polymorphism · bottleneck · homology · descent
cancer
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
leukemia · lymphoma · pathogenic · Huntington's · BRCA · hereditary · congenital · germline · somatic · malignant
radiation
Energy propagation through space
- mutagenAgent causing genetic change
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- inducedBrought about deliberately
lethal · viable · conditional · knockout · transgenic · Drosophila · bacterial · viral · resistance · hotspot
- DNA testsDNA test, paternity test, genetic test, DNA sample, genotyping
- Cancer GenomicsBRCA, tumor markers, tumor suppressor, carcinogenesis, methylation
- Genome InstabilityDNA damage, deletions, insertions, translocations, translocation
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, ionizing radiation, cell damage, radiation dose
- Fungal Geneticsgenes, genome, chromosomes, alleles, genotype
- Genetic Mutationsmutagenesis, nonsense, frameshift, deletion, insertion
mutationsconservation
Preventing waste or loss
invariance · stasis · constancy · wild type · immutability
- gene mutationChange in DNA sequence
- genetic mutationHeritable DNA sequence change
- viral mutationChange in pathogen's genome
- random mutationUnplanned genetic change
- rare mutationUnusual change in DNA
- virus mutationAltered pathogen genetic sequence