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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

An Introduction to Worm Lab: from Culturing Worms to Mutagenesis
Published on: January 11, 2011
'Wild Type'
Isabel Askenasy1, Jemima E V Swain1, Pok-Man Ho1
1Department of Biochemistry, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract:
In this opinion piece, we consider the meaning of the term 'wild type' in the context of microbiology. This is especially pertinent in the post-genomic era, where we have a greater awareness of species diversity than ever before. Genomic heterogeneity, in vitro evolution/selection pressures, definition of 'the wild', the size and importance of the pan-genome, gene-gene interactions (epistasis), and the nature of the 'wild-type gene' are all discussed. We conclude that wild type is an outdated and even misleading phrase that should be gradually phased out.
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