Definition

1. Noun:

   • An organism that has undergone a genetic mutation: A living being whose genetic material (DNA) has changed, resulting in a new physical characteristic or trait not found in its parents.
   • An animal with such a change: Specifically, an animal that exhibits traits from a genetic mutation.

2. Adjective:

   • Resulting from or tending to undergo mutation: Describes something, typically a gene or characteristic, that is the product of a genetic change or has a propensity for such change.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The scientist studied the fruit fly mutant that had white eyes instead of red.
  • In the comic book, the hero gained his powers after becoming a mutant.

• Adjective:

  • They inserted the mutant gene into the bacteria to observe its effects.
  • The mutant strain of the virus was more contagious.

Advanced Usage

• "Mutant allele": A specific variant form of a gene that has arisen by mutation and is responsible for a new trait.

  • The disease is caused by a rare mutant allele.

• "Mutant phenotype": The observable physical characteristics of an organism resulting from a mutation.

  • The mutant phenotype included stunted growth and altered leaf shape.

Variants and Related Words

• Mutation (n): The process or event that causes a change in genetic material, resulting in a mutant.

  • The radiation caused a genetic mutation.

• Mutate (v): To undergo or cause to undergo genetic mutation.

  • Some viruses mutate rapidly.

Synonyms

• Noun: Sport (in biology), variant, freak (informal, often pejorative).
• Adjective: Altered, changed, transformed.

Related Phrases

• "Mutant strain": A distinct genetic subtype of a microorganism that has arisen through mutation.
  • Researchers are monitoring the new mutant strain of the flu.

Related Idioms

• While not a traditional idiom, in popular culture (e.g., X-Men), "mutant" is used as a noun to describe a human-born individual with superhuman abilities due to their genetic makeup.
  • He felt like a mutant in a world of ordinary people.

Adjective

1. tending to undergo or resulting from mutation
   • a mutant gene

Noun

1. an animal that has undergone mutation
2. (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration