(mutates, mutating, mutated)
1.
If an animal or plant mutates, or something mutates it, it develops different characteristics as the result of a change in its genes.
The virus mutates in the carrier's body...
A newer anti-HIV drug called pyridinone caused HIV to mutate into a form which could not reproduce or infect new cells...
The technique has been to mutate the genes by irradiation or chemicals...
VERB: V, V into n, V n, also V n into n
• mutation (mutations)
Scientists have found a genetic mutation that appears to be the cause of Huntington's disease.
N-VAR
2.
If something mutates into something different, it changes into that thing.
Overnight, the gossip begins to mutate into headlines.
VERB: V into n