Insertion

Insertion is the act of placing something into another object, place, or context. It can refer to a physical act, a biological event, or a conceptual operation, and the specifics vary by field. In many cases, insertion changes the structure, function, or sequence of the target.

In linguistics, insertion describes adding a segment, such as a sound or letter, into a word or phoneme sequence. A common type is epenthesis, where an extra vowel or consonant is inserted to ease articulation or accommodate a morphological or phonotactic rule. Insertion can influence pronunciation, spelling, and syllable structure.

In biology and genetics, insertion refers to the addition of nucleotides into a DNA sequence. Insertion mutations can occur through transposons, viral integration, or errors in replication. Such insertions can disrupt gene function or regulate expression, and they may be inherited or arise anew. Insertion events also underpin certain genetic engineering techniques, where specific DNA fragments are inserted to modify traits.

In medicine and dentistry, insertion denotes the placement of devices or instruments into the body. Examples include catheter insertion for fluid administration, implant insertion in orthopedic or dental procedures, and the placement of prosthetics or diagnostic tools. The procedure and its risks depend on the site and purpose.

In computer science, insertion is the operation of adding a new element into a data structure, such as a list or array. It is central to many algorithms and data-management tasks. The insertion sort algorithm, for example, builds a sorted sequence by repeatedly inserting elements into their correct position.

Across domains, insertion captures the common idea of bringing something into a new position, with outcomes ranging from simple placement to significant functional change.