Mutants

From Galactic Patrol Wiki

Mutants

Mutants are individual, organisms, or new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a sudden structural change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the wildtype. In an organism or individual, the new character or trait may or may not be trivial, may occasionally be beneficial, but will usually result in either a genetic disorder or have no phenotypic effect whatsoever. The natural occurrence of genetic mutations is integral to the process of evolution. A more general term for mutant is sport, which includes individuals who vary from type due to mutation, as well as those who vary from type due to other reasons.

Developmental abnormalities not due to genetic change, are frequently referred to as mutants by non-experts. The difference between a developmental abnormality and a mutation is that the former is non-hereditable as the DNA is unchanged. Such abnormalities include extra limbs and occur when a genetically normal embryo develops abnormally