Meanings
nounclastogen (plural clastogens)
plural clastogens
- biologyAny agent that causes breaks in chromosomes.
Chromosomal mutations are recognised as morphological alterations in the gross structure of chromosomes (i.e. they are structural aberrations which can be detected microscopically). Compounds that cause chromosome damage are called clastogens.
2009, Lutz Müller, Anke Lühe, “Preclinical safety testing”, in John P. Griffin, editor, The Textbook of Pharmaceutical Medicine, 6th edition, Wiley-Blackwell, →ISBN, page 120
Origin
- Ancient Greekκλαστός
- Englishclastogen
From Ancient Greek κλαστός (klastós) + -gen.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
clastogen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clastogen
MLA
“clastogen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clastogen. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clastogen,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clastogen.
Source: clastogen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.