What term describes a change in the DNA sequence?

The term that describes a change in the DNA sequence is mutation. Mutations can occur in various forms, such as substitutions, insertions, or deletions of nucleotides, and they can have a wide range of effects on an organism. Some mutations may not affect the organism at all, while others can lead to significant changes, including the development of diseases or new traits.

In contrast, transmutation is not a commonly used term in genetics, and it typically refers to the changing of one element into another, which is unrelated to DNA. Replication refers to the process by which DNA is copied before cell division, ensuring that each new cell receives an exact copy of the DNA. Gene transfer involves the movement of genetic material between organisms, which can occur in processes such as horizontal gene transfer but does not inherently refer to changes in the DNA sequence itself. Thus, mutation is specifically the term that accurately describes changes occurring in the DNA sequence.