Basic Information
A mutant is an organism (such as an animal, plant or person) who has a mutation or alteration to their DNA. (In some cases the alteration may be to the RNA instead, such as in a virus which has no DNA.)
This mutation may be caused by random chromosomal damage due to environment factor such as a mutagen, toxin or radiation. It may be a replication error. It may be a normal part of evolution, or it could be evidence of genetic engineering, or it may be part of an illness such as a cancer or tumor. The mutation might be present in every cell of the organism and have been there from conception, or it may start in a single cell that then reproduces and slowly grows.
A mutation could be something as simple as a slight coloration change, or it could be more pronounced such as radically divergent limb structure. Many mutations, especially radical or large-scale ones, can prove to be lethal to the organism. Others may prove to be advantageous and after a bit of natural selection become the new normal for the species (or the basis of a new species).
Mutant Tropes:
- After The End
- Evolutionary Levels
- Genetic Engineering Is The New Nuke
- The Grotesque
- Hollywood Evolution
- I Love Nuclear Power
- Lamarck Was Right (see Lamarckism)
- Magic Genetics
- Mutant Draft Board
- Power Upgrading Deformation
- Radiation-Immune Mutants
- Super Hero
- Super Registration Act
- Transformation Horror
- Transhuman Treachery
- Unstable Genetic Code
See Also:
- Science
- Additive Monster
- News: Chernobyl Fungus Feeds On Radiation
- News: Freaks Survive Because They Are Strange
- News: Meet Mr. Green-Genes, the world's first glow-in-the-dark cat
- News: Toxic Waste Creates Hermaphrodite Polar Bears
Sources
Game and Story Use
- The term mutant is often used in speculative fiction (especially that which has a horror genre theme, or is set after the end) to refer specifically to creatures with horrific abnormalities, often accompanied by monstrous behavior. This of course overlooks that all of evolution is driven by mutant replication errors. There's no need for mutants to be frightening… but they often serve that role in stories none the less.
- "It's a mutant!" can serve as good justification for your Monster of the Week shenanigans.
- Likely to be a lot of Mutants in a After The End setting with Post-Apocalyptic Decay and Radioactive Contamination.