---
title: mutation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mutation» in the school dictionary: A mutation is a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can cause a new feature; most mutations make no difference, some are harmful, a few are helpful. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mutation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mutation, living thing, most mutations, some, few, Mutations · **What happens:** be, cause, make, give, happen, copy · **To what, where:** change, genes, new feature, difference, form, extra toes

<!-- .vabout -->
«mutation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mutation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mutation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mutation is a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can cause a new feature; most mutations make no difference, some are harmful, a few are helpful.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:m1:1
# text = A mutation is a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can cause a new feature; most mutations make no difference, some are harmful, a few are helpful.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl:relcl	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	feature	feature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
24	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	25	amod	_	_
25	mutations	mutation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	nsubj	_	_
26	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
27	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	28	det	_	_
28	difference	difference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
30	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	32	nsubj	_	_
31	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	cop	_	_
32	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	37	punct	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	37	nsubj	_	_
36	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	37	cop	_	_
37	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mutation | a change |  | the genes and DNA of a living thing |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | can | a living thing | a new feature |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition feature=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | present | most mutations | no difference |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset difference=Product |
| 4 | **is** | present | some |  |  |  |  | harmful *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | present | a few |  |  |  |  | helpful *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mutation is any change in form, a change from one shape or kind into another.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:m2:1
# text = A mutation is any change in form, a change from one shape or kind into another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	into	into	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mutation | any change |  | form |  | a change from one shape or kind into another *nmod* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some languages like Welsh and Irish, a mutation is a change to the first sound of a word.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:m3:1
# text = In some languages like Welsh and Irish, a mutation is a change to the first sound of a word.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Welsh	Welsh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	Irish	Irish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	17	amod	_	_
17	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mutation | a change |  |  |  | to the first sound of a word | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mutation in its genes gave the cat extra toes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x1:1
# text = A mutation in its genes gave the cat extra toes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	toes	toe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | a mutation in mutation's genes | extra toes | the cat |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent cat=Recipient toe=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mutations happen by chance when DNA is copied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x2:1
# text = Mutations happen by chance when DNA is copied.
1	Mutations	mutation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	copied	copy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Mutations |  |  |  |  | by chance | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by chance=Location |
| 2 | **copy** | present · passive |  | DNA |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most mutations are neither good nor bad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x3:1
# text = Most mutations are neither good nor bad.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	mutations	mutation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	neither	neither	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	nor	nor	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	7	cc	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Most mutations |  |  |  |  | good, neither *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Most mutations *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The virus developed a mutation that helped it spread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x4:1
# text = The virus developed a mutation that helped it spread.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	developed	develop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **develop** | past | the virus | a mutation |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mutation=Product |
| 2 | **help** | past | a mutation | mutation |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **spread** | infinitive | mutation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the comic, a mutation gave the boy super strength.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x5:1
# text = In the comic, a mutation gave the boy super strength.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comic	comic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	iobj	_	_
10	super	super	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | a mutation | strength | the boy | the comic |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent boy=Recipient strength=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A helpful mutation can spread through a population over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x6:1
# text = A helpful mutation can spread through a population over time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mutation	mutation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	population	population	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | can | a helpful mutation |  |  | a population | time |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through population=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Welsh has mutations, so «cath» (cat) can become «gath».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutation:x7:1
# text = Welsh has mutations, so «cath» (cat) can become «gath».
1	Welsh	Welsh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mutations	mutation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	cath	cath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	gath	gath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Welsh | mutations |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mutation=Patient |
| 2 | **become** | can | cath | gath |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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