Mutagen: meaning, definitions and examples

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mutagen

 

[ หˆmjuหtษ™หŒdส’ษ›n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

biological impact

A mutagen is an agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, that causes genetic mutation. Mutagens can change the structure of DNA, leading to errors in replication and the potential for cancer or other genetic disorders.

Synonyms

DNA damaging agent, mutagenic agent

Examples of usage

  • Exposure to certain chemicals can act as a mutagen.
  • Radon gas is considered a mutagen that can increase cancer risk.
  • Some viruses are known to be mutagens that can alter cellular DNA.

Translations

Translations of the word "mutagen" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น mutรกgeno

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฎเฅเคฏเฅ‚เคŸเคพเคœเฅ‡เคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Mutagen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mutagen

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผัƒั‚ะฐะณะตะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ mutagen

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅค‰็•ฐๅŽŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท mutagรจne

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ mutรกgeno

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท mutajen

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋Œ์—ฐ๋ณ€์ด ์œ ๋ฐœ ๋ฌผ์งˆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ูุนูŽุทู‘ูู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mutagen

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mutagรฉn

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฏฑๅ˜ๅ‰‚

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mutagen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ breytir

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผัƒั‚ะฐะณะตะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒฃแƒขแƒแƒ’แƒ”แƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mutagen

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ mutรกgeno

Etymology

The word 'mutagen' originates from the early 20th century and is derived from the root 'mutate', which itself comes from the Latin 'mutare', meaning 'to change' or 'to alter'. The suffix '-gen' comes from the Greek 'genes', meaning 'born of' or 'produced by'. Hence, a mutagen is something that causes change, particularly in genetic material. The concept of mutagens gained prominence with the discovery of mutagenic substances in laboratories and the study of genetics, particularly in the context of how environmental factors can lead to genetic mutations. This understanding has immense implications in fields such as genetic research, pharmacology, and oncology, as they explore how certain mutagens contribute to diseases and the potential for genetic modification.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,124 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.