What is Wildtype in Molecular Biology?

"Wildtype" is a term used in molecular biology to refer to an organism or cell that has not been genetically modified or engineered, and is therefore considered to be "wild" or natural. In other words, it is a normal, unmodified version of the organism or cell, as opposed to one that has been artificially altered through genetic engineering or other means.

For example, if a scientist is studying the behavior of a particular species of mouse, they might use wildtype mice as a control group to compare the behavior of mice that have been genetically modified in some way. The wildtype mice would be considered to be the "normal" or "wild" version of the species, and the modified mice would be compared to them to see how they differ.

The term "wildtype" is often used in scientific literature to describe the normal or natural version of an organism or cell, as opposed to a modified or engineered version. It is a useful term for scientists to use when discussing their research and findings, as it provides a clear and concise way to refer to the unmodified version of an organism or cell.