Mutagen: meaning, definitions and examples
๐งฌ
mutagen
[ หmjuหtษหdสษn ]
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:
๐ต๐น mutรกgeno
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฎเฅเคฏเฅเคเคพเคเฅเคจ
๐ฉ๐ช Mutagen
๐ฎ๐ฉ mutagen
๐บ๐ฆ ะผััะฐะณะตะฝ
๐ต๐ฑ mutagen
๐ฏ๐ต ๅค็ฐๅ
๐ซ๐ท mutagรจne
๐ช๐ธ mutรกgeno
๐น๐ท mutajen
๐ฐ๐ท ๋์ฐ๋ณ์ด ์ ๋ฐ ๋ฌผ์ง
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ูุนูุทููู
๐จ๐ฟ mutagen
๐ธ๐ฐ mutagรฉn
๐จ๐ณ ่ฏฑๅๅ
๐ธ๐ฎ mutagen
๐ฎ๐ธ breytir
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะผััะฐะณะตะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแฃแขแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ mutagen
๐ฒ๐ฝ mutรกgeno
Word origin
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.