Legal Definitions - mutation

Definition: Mutation (noun) refers to a significant and fundamental change in something, especially in property law, where it means changing the status of a property from separate property to community property. Mutation can also be used as a verb (mutate) and an adjective (mutational).

Example 1: In property law, mutation occurs when a property owner changes the status of their property from separate property to community property after getting married.

Example 2: Genetic mutation is a natural process that occurs when there is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism. This can lead to new traits or characteristics.

Example 3: The COVID-19 virus has undergone several mutations since it was first identified, leading to the emergence of new variants that are more contagious or resistant to vaccines.

These examples illustrate how mutation can refer to a significant and fundamental change in different contexts, such as property law, genetics, and virology. In each case, mutation involves a change that alters the original state or status of something, whether it is a property, an organism, or a virus.