Thread:Undoniel/@comment-12714-20140131052230/@comment-1009000-20140204124638

I sent you the second link to clarify the use of the word mutate outside of comics. It is only used as a verb (to mutate). Anything that gets mutated is called a mutant. So by that reasoning, the opposite of what you're postulating is true - every mutate is techically a mutant. The use of mutate as a noun (as in: "Spider-Man is a mutate") is practically exclusive to comics.

Marvel comics has always made a clear distinction between the two. Mutants are a separate species who has evolved from homo sapiens sapiens. There is tons of source material explaining the iffy biological science of that. Which is why - and you're absolutely right on that point - a latent mutant is still a mutant. He has the X-Gene, he is part of that species. With the inhumans, the case is different: they are a separate species as well, but - by marvel jargon - they are mutates after they are exposed to terigenesis. A cultural practice, not a biological process. An inhuman not exposed to terrigenesis is NOT a latent mutate. He's just an inhuman without powers. Interestingly enough, terrigenesis has been known to cause genetic damage, so obviously there's something going on at the genetic level - this could be construed into a case for mutated inhumans being calles artificial mutants, but not the other way around.

For most of the rest of what marvel calls mutates, there's little to no pseudo-scientific explanation for how they get their powers. Did the radioactive spider change Peter Parkers DNA so that all of a sudden he had an X-gene too? Certainly not. We know that with the Hulk the gamma radiation changed his DNA-strucure, but I've never heard the term X-gene being used in his context. Again - if you want to argue that mutates are technically artificial mutants, I might tend to agree with you. But the other way around I cannot agree.

PS

this is the sort of conversation I love being on this site for. Arguing science when it comes to comic books? Best. Use. Of. A. Human. Brain. Ever. B-)