In Marvel comic books, particularly those of the X-Men mythos, a mutant is a member of the species Homo sapiens superior, an offshoot of regular humanity, Homo sapiens. Mutants are born with a genetic trait called the X-gene, which allows them to naturally develop abilities not possessed by regular humans. Mutants are often called either the next stage in human evolution or a new species of humanity. The term "mutant" in the Marvel Universe is not generally applied those whose DNA has been altered by an external force. These do exist in the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four are prominent examples - but are covered by the separate and distinct term "mutate", a shorthand term for "mutated human". Marvel mutants, by comparison, possess the X-gene from birth. Description Mutant powers vary almost without limit. Individual mutant powers or power combinations are almost always uni