mutagen

mu·ta·gen

M0500900 (myo͞o′tə-jən, -jĕn′)n. An agent, such as a chemical, ultraviolet light, or a radioactive element, that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in an organism.

[muta(tion) + -gen.]

mu′ta·gen′ic adj.mu′ta·gen′i·cal·ly adv.mu′ta·ge·nic′i·ty (-jə-nĭs′ĭ-tē) n.

mutagen

(ˈmjuːtədʒən) n (Genetics) a substance or agent that can induce genetic mutation[C20: from mutation + -gen] mutagenic adj ˌmutagenˈicity n

mu•ta•gen

(ˈmyu tə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn)

n. a substance or preparation capable of inducing or accelerating mutation. [1945–50; muta (tion) + -gen] mu`ta•gen′ic, adj. mu`ta•gen′i•cal•ly, adv.

Thesaurus

Noun

mutagen - any agent (physical or environmental) that can induce a genetic mutation or can increase the rate of mutationagent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents"

Translations

mutagen

enUK

mutagen:

see mutationmutation,
in biology, a sudden, random change in a gene, or unit of hereditary material, that can alter an inheritable characteristic. Most mutations are not beneficial, since any change in the delicate balance of an organism having a high level of adaptation to its environment
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Mutagen

a physical or chemical substance that causes permanent hereditary change.

Physical mutagens include ultraviolet radiation and all kinds of ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays, X rays, protons, and neutrons. High and low temperatures are much less capable of causing mutations.

As study intensifies, the list of compounds with mutagenic action grows longer. Among the chemical mutagens are many alkylating compounds, for example, mustard gas, dimethyl sulfate, and nitrosomethylurea; analogs of nitrogenous bases of the nucleic acids, for example, 5-bromouracil and 2-aminopurine; acridine dyes; nitrous acid; some alkaloids; formaldehyde; hydrogen peroxide and some organic peroxides; and some bio-polymers, for example, heterologous DNA and, apparently, heterologous RNA.

The most powerful chemical mutagens, which increase the frequency of mutations hundreds of times, are called super-mutagens. Some viruses might also be considered chemical mutagens, since the mutagenic factor in viruses seems to be located in their DNA or RNA.

Mutagens are apparently universal, that is, they can cause mutations in all forms of life—from viruses and bacteria to the higher plants, animals, and man. Various species differ in their mutability, that is, their sensitivity to mutagens. None of the known mutagens appear to have a lower limit of mutagenic action. However, the frequency of induced mutations decreases with the decreasing dose of mutagen to a point that matches the frequency of spontaneous mutations regularly occurring in the absence of any mutagen.

Physical and chemical mutagens are widely used in breeding agriculturally useful plants and useful microorganisms. Once the mutation is induced, the mutant is artificially removed from the population and bred as a separate species. These mutations are used in artificial selection.

REFERENCES

See references under .

mutagen

[′myüd·ə·jən] (genetics) An agent that raises the frequency of mutation above the spontaneous or background rate.

mutagen

a substance or agent that can induce genetic mutation

mutagen

[mu´tah-jen] an agent that induces genetic mutation.

mu·ta·gen

(myū'tă-jen), Any agent that promotes a mutation or causes an increase in the rate of mutational events, for example, radioactive substances, x-rays, or certain chemicals. [L. muto, to change, + G. -gen, producing]

mutagen

(myo͞o′tə-jən, -jĕn′)n. An agent, such as a chemical, ultraviolet light, or a radioactive element, that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in an organism.

mu′ta·gen′ic adj.mu′ta·gen′i·cal·ly adv.mu′ta·ge·nic′i·ty (-jə-nĭs′ĭ-tē) n.

mu·ta·gen

(myū'tă-jen) Any agent that promotes a mutation or causes an increase in the rate of mutational events, e.g., radioactive substances, x-rays, or certain chemicals. [L. muto, to change, + G. -gen, producing]

mutagen

Any agent capable of changing the structure of DNA without immediately killing the cell concerned. Any surviving MUTATION may be perpetuated to all descendants of the cell. Mutagens include ionizing radiation such as ultraviolet light, X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays and a wide range of chemical substances including the tars in cigarette smoke.

mutagen

an agent that is capable of increasing the MUTATION rate in an organism, for example, X-rays, ultraviolet light, mustard gas.

mu·ta·gen

(myū'tă-jen) Any agent that promotes a mutation or increases rate of mutational events. [L. muto, to change, + G. -gen, producing]

mutagen

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mutagen

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mutagen

mutagen:

Mutagen

REFERENCES

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Words related to mutagen

noun any agent (physical or environmental) that can induce a genetic mutation or can increase the rate of mutation

Related Words