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A mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation
Mutation

In biology, mutations are changes to the nucleotide sequence of the genetic material of an organism. Mutations can be caused by copying errors in the genetic material during cell division, by exposure to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, or virus , or can be induced by the organism, itself, by cellular processes such as s...
, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA
DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetics instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses....
 of a gene
Gene

A gene is the basic unit of heredity in a living organism. All living things depend on genes. Genes hold the information to build and maintain their cell and pass genetic trait to offspring....
 or chromosome
Chromosome

A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein that is found in Cell . A chromosome is a single piece of DNA that contains many genes, regulatory sequence and other genetic sequence....
 of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the wild type
Wild type

Wild type, sometimes written wildtype or wild-type, is the typical form of an organism, strain, gene, or characteristic as it occurs in nature....
. The natural occurrence of genetic mutations is integral to the process of evolution
Evolution

In biology, evolution is change in the heritability trait of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. These changes are caused by a combination of three main processes: variation, reproduction, and selection....
.

ough not all mutations have a noticeable phenotypic effect, the common usage of the word mutant is generally a pejorative
Pejorative

Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt. When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous....
 term only used for noticeable mutations.






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A mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation
Mutation

In biology, mutations are changes to the nucleotide sequence of the genetic material of an organism. Mutations can be caused by copying errors in the genetic material during cell division, by exposure to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, or virus , or can be induced by the organism, itself, by cellular processes such as s...
, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA
DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetics instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses....
 of a gene
Gene

A gene is the basic unit of heredity in a living organism. All living things depend on genes. Genes hold the information to build and maintain their cell and pass genetic trait to offspring....
 or chromosome
Chromosome

A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein that is found in Cell . A chromosome is a single piece of DNA that contains many genes, regulatory sequence and other genetic sequence....
 of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the wild type
Wild type

Wild type, sometimes written wildtype or wild-type, is the typical form of an organism, strain, gene, or characteristic as it occurs in nature....
. The natural occurrence of genetic mutations is integral to the process of evolution
Evolution

In biology, evolution is change in the heritability trait of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. These changes are caused by a combination of three main processes: variation, reproduction, and selection....
.

Etymology

Although not all mutations have a noticeable phenotypic effect, the common usage of the word mutant is generally a pejorative
Pejorative

Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt. When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous....
 term only used for noticeable mutations. The scientific usage is broader, referring to any organism differing from the wildtype.

Mutants should not be confused with organisms born with developmental abnormalities
Developmental abnormality

A developmental abnormality is caused by errors during morphogenesis. In a developmental abnormality, the DNA of the organism is unchanged and the abnormality cannot be passed on to progeny....
, which are caused by errors during morphogenesis
Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis , is the physical process that gives rise to the shape of an organism. It is one of three fundamental aspects of developmental biology along with the control of cell growth and cellular differentiation....
. In a developmental abnormality, the DNA of the organism is unchanged and the abnormality cannot be passed on to progeny. Conjoined twins
Conjoined twins

Conjoined twins are whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 200,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa....
 are the result of developmental abnormalities.

Chemicals that cause developmental abnormalities are called teratogens; these may also cause mutations, but their effect on development is not related to mutations. Chemicals that induce mutations are called mutagen
Mutagen

In biology, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic information of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level....
s. Most mutagens are also considered to be carcinogen
Carcinogen

The term carcinogen refers to any substance, radionuclide or radiation that is an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or in the increase of its propagation....
s.

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