Nonmutant

Nonmutant is a descriptive term used in genetics and related fields to refer to an organism, cell, allele, or sequence that lacks a mutation of interest relative to a reference genome or baseline. The term is relative and is often paired with a specified mutation or set of mutations; it does not by itself imply a particular phenotype beyond the absence of those mutations.

In genetics, nonmutant commonly aligns with the concept of a wild-type allele, but not always synonymous; wild type describes the most common form in nature or the standard strain, whereas nonmutant describes the absence of a defined mutation, which could still be a rare or non-wild-type variant.

In research and clinical contexts, "nonmutant" can describe samples or cells that do not carry a pathogenic or study-designated mutation; it is important to specify the mutation set and detection method, as sequencing limitations or mosaicism can affect classification.

In fiction, especially in superhero or speculative settings, "nonmutant" can be used to distinguish ordinary humans from mutants. The term's usage varies by work and can reflect world-building conventions; some works prefer terms like "baseline human" or "non-powered" instead.

See also: wild type, mutation, genotype, phenotype, somatic mutation.