frameshift

adjective

frame·​shift ˈfrām-ˌshift 

: relating to, being, or causing a mutation in which a number of nucleotides not divisible by three is inserted or deleted so as to change the reading frame of some triplet codons during genetic translation

frameshift noun

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

frameshift

adjective

frame·​shift -ˌshift 

: relating to, being, or causing a mutation in which a number of nucleotides not divisible by three is inserted or deleted so that some triplet codons are read incorrectly during genetic translation

frameshift mutations

frameshift mutagens

frameshift noun