mosaicism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2/Professional)Formal, Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “mosaicism” mean?
The condition of having cells of two or more genetically different types in a single organism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The condition of having cells of two or more genetically different types in a single organism.
In a broader sense, it can refer metaphorically to any complex system composed of diverse, distinct elements that together form a whole, especially in cultural or social contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
None beyond its scientific definition.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialised fields.
Grammar
How to Use “mosaicism” in a Sentence
The patient has mosaicism (for a mutation).Mosaicism was detected/identified/confirmed.The study reports a case of mosaicism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mosaicism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No verb form. The related verb is 'to mosaic', not used in this context.)
American English
- (No verb form. The related verb is 'to mosaic', not used in this context.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form. 'Mosaically' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form. 'Mosaically' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare.)
adjective
British English
- The mosaic embryo showed unexpected developmental potential.
- They observed a mosaic pattern of gene expression.
American English
- The mosaic embryo showed unexpected developmental potential.
- They observed a mosaic pattern of gene expression.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Standard term in genetics, developmental biology, and medical case studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term describing a condition where an individual has two or more cell populations with different genotypes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mosaicism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mosaicism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mosaicism”
- Misspelling as 'mosaiscism' or 'mosaism'.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a mosaicism'); it's usually non-count.
- Confusing with 'chimerism', which involves cells from different zygotes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Both involve a mixture of cells, but chimerism results from the fusion of two different zygotes, while mosaicism arises from mutations in a single zygote after fertilisation.
It depends. Germline mosaicism (in egg or sperm cells) can be passed to offspring, while somatic mosaicism (in body cells) generally is not inherited.
No. Many cases are benign and go unnoticed. It can cause disease if the genetic change affects key genes in a significant proportion of cells.
Through advanced genetic testing like karyotyping, FISH, or DNA sequencing, often requiring analysis of multiple tissue samples.
The condition of having cells of two or more genetically different types in a single organism.
Mosaicism is usually formal, technical/scientific in register.
Mosaicism: in British English it is pronounced /məʊˈzeɪ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊˈzeɪ.ə.sɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none - technical term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOSAIC artwork made of different coloured tiles; MOSAICISM is a body made of different genetic 'tiles' or cells.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A MOSAIC (composed of genetically distinct pieces).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary field where 'mosaicism' is a key term?