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
Examples of wild type in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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 
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.
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
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 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share