penetrance
[ pen-i-truh ns ]
/ ˈpɛn ɪ trəns /
noun Genetics.
the frequency, expressed as a percentage, with which a particular gene produces its effect in a group of organisms.
Compare expressivity(def 2).
Origin of penetrance
First recorded in 1635–45;
penetr(ant) +
-ance
Words nearby penetrance
peneios,
penelope,
peneplain,
penetrable,
penetralia,
penetrance,
penetrant,
penetrant gene,
penetrate,
penetrating,
penetrating wound
Example sentences from the Web for penetrance
“These measures of penetrance are likely artificially high,” says University of Cardiff medical geneticist David Cooper.
If scientists identify 100 individuals with the same mutation, and 75 of them have disease, the penetrance is 75 percent.
British Dictionary definitions for penetrance
penetrance
/ (ˈpɛnɪtrəns) /
noun
genetics
the percentage frequency with which a gene exhibits its effect
Word Origin for penetrance
C20: from
penetr (
ant) +
-ance, on the model of German
penetranz
Medical definitions for penetrance
penetrance
[ pĕn′ĭ-trəns ]
n.
The frequency, under given environmental conditions, with which a specific genotype is expressed by those individuals that possess it, usually given as a percentage.