mutate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Genes can be expressed or activated, or not—more often they’re not; they mutate and can alter their own function and be altered by environmental forces.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Most efforts to create broader vaccines have aimed to protect against an entire viral family, such as all coronaviruses or all influenza strains, by targeting viral components that mutate less frequently.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

The concern for public health experts has been that, as the virus passes between animals, it could mutate in a way that would allow it to move easily from human to human.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Viruses can mutate to escape from antibodies, but the mRNA vaccines are not causing the emergence of more virulent strains, likely for at least two reasons.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2025

And if it should mutate in some other direction .

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston