wild type

noun

: a phenotype, genotype, or gene that predominates in a natural population of organisms or strain of organisms in contrast to that of natural or laboratory mutant forms
also : an organism or strain displaying the wild type
wild-type adjective

Examples of wild type in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When wild type 1 poliovirus jumped from Pakistan to Malawi and Mozambique in 2022, GPEI was on it immediately, quickly snuffing out the outbreak. Byleslie Roberts, science.org, 7 May 2024 Reintroducing wild type variants of the gene into the sequences of mutants resulted in the reversion back to wild type phenotype. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011 And since then, that wild type has mutated. Donna M. Owens, Essence, 14 July 2021 Perinatal cerebrovascular fetal lesions was observed in two fetuses after infection with SARS-CoV-2 (wild type). William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wild type 

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wild type was in 1914

Dictionary Entries Near wild type

Cite this Entry

“Wild type.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wild%20type. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

wild type

noun
: a phenotype, genotype, or gene that predominates in a natural population of organisms or strain of organisms in contrast to that of natural or laboratory mutant forms
also : an organism or strain displaying the wild type
wild-type adjective
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