Wild type
Wild type
Wild type (pronounced: /waɪld taɪp/) is a term used in genetics to refer to the natural, non-mutated form of a gene or organism. The term originates from the field of genetics and is derived from the English words "wild", meaning natural or untamed, and "type", meaning a particular class or form.
Definition
In genetics, the wild type is the phenotype that is most commonly observed in nature. It is often used as a reference point in genetic studies to compare the effects of mutations. The wild type is not necessarily the most beneficial or optimal form of a gene or organism, but rather the one that is most common in a specific population at a given time.
Related Terms
- Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism, which determines its physical characteristics (phenotype).
- Phenotype: The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.
- Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, which can lead to variations in the phenotype.
- Allele: One of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
See Also
References
- Genetics Home Reference. (2020). What are wild type and mutant alleles? Retrieved from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/mutationsanddisorders/wildtype
- Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell. New York: Garland Science.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Wild type
- Wikipedia's article - Wild type
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