mutagen

mutagen /mu·ta·gen/ (mu´tah-jen) an agent which induces genetic mutation.

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mu·ta·gen (myt-jn, -jn)

n.

An agent, such as ultraviolet light or a radioactive element, that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in an organism.

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muta·genic adj.

muta·geni·cal·ly adv.

muta·ge·nici·ty (-j-ns-t) n.

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mutagen

(mū´tjin),
n a chemical or physical environmental agent that induces a genetic mutation or increases the mutation rate.

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mutagen

a physical agent or chemical reagent that causes mutation to occur, e.g. x-irradiation, nitrous acid, and thereby increases the mutation rate of a gene.