What does mutationally mean?
Mutationally means in a manner involving mutation, especially the alteration of genetic material. It is normally used in biology, genetics, and related scientific discussions to describe a change that results from mutation rather than from a deliberate modification or a predictable transformation. For example, a population may evolve mutationally when random changes in its genetic material produce new traits over time. The word is more precise than simply saying a change occurred because it identifies mutation as the mechanism, but it is also more specialized than most general audiences require. Its adverbial ending, -ly, makes it useful when describing the manner of a biological change: “The species disappeared mutationally,” for instance, attributes the disappearance to mutation itself. In ordinary discussion, a simpler phrase such as “through mutation” will often be clearer.
adverbIn a manner involving mutation or the process of changing. It describes a change that occurs as the result of mutation rather than through a deliberate or ordinary alteration.
- In a way that involves mutation; as a result of a genetic or other biological change.
"The population evolved mutationally as random genetic changes accumulated over generations."
"These cells acquired the trait mutationally during an early stage of development."
"The disease can progress mutationally when new genetic variants arise."
Some of life's biggest transformations begin quietly, one random mutation at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mutationally come from?
The word is formed adverbially from mutational, which in turn derives from mutation. Mutation comes through Latin mutatio, meaning “a change,” from the root mutare, “to change.” English borrowed the Latin-derived family during the early modern period, and mutation eventually became especially important in genetics as a term for changes in genes or chromosomes. The adverb mutationally developed from this established scientific vocabulary.
How mutationally is actually used
A relatively uncommon, technical adverb, used chiefly in biology, genetics, and related scientific writing.
Easily confused with mutationally
Mutation is the noun naming a process or an individual genetic change, whereas mutationally is an adverb describing how something changes.