mutation

«mutation» in Mova's school dictionary: a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (a mutation, mutations; mutation, uncountable)

meaning for a pupil

1) A mutation is a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can cause a new feature; most mutations make no difference, some are harmful, a few are helpful. tree →

2) A mutation is any change in form, a change from one shape or kind into another. tree →

3) In some languages like Welsh and Irish, a mutation is a change to the first sound of a word. tree →

sense in the lessons

In science lessons on evolution and inheritance, mutations explain why living things vary and how new features, such as moths with darker wings, can spread over many generations. In comics and films, «mutations» give superheroes or monsters strange powers, which is fiction. In the news, virus mutations can create new variants. Phrases: «a genetic mutation», «a random mutation», «a new mutation».

examples

• A mutation in its genes gave the cat extra toes. tree →
• Mutations happen by chance when DNA is copied. tree →
• Most mutations are neither good nor bad. tree →
• The virus developed a mutation that helped it spread. tree →
• In the comic, a mutation gave the boy super strength. tree →
• A helpful mutation can spread through a population over time. tree →
• Welsh has mutations, so «cath» (cat) can become «gath». tree →

note

Countable (a mutation) or uncountable (the process). Verb: mutate. Related: mutant (a creature with a mutation). Myth trap: real mutations do not give superpowers.

In the corpora

• Mutations are the raw material of evolution.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «mutation» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.