genetic marker

noun

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of genetic marker

: a readily recognizable genetic trait, gene, DNA segment, or gene product used for identification especially when closely linked to a trait or genetic material that is difficult to identify

Recent Examples of genetic marker from the Web

This, combined with the muscular issues, told our doctors that there was a very serious condition here, potentially so rare there’s not a genetic marker identified for it yet.

— the cut, The Cut, "The Mom Who Had an Abortion at 8 Months, Then a Surprise Pregnancy," 6 June 2018
Precision medicine, and the use of genetic markers to predict the success of treatments, promises to help answer these questions.

— casey ross, STAT, "A new cancer care dilemma: Patients want immunotherapy even when evidence is lacking," 4 June 2018
In late 2016, Versluis sought treatment at Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, where doctors discovered his tumors had a genetic marker that could respond to immunotherapy, one of the newer ways to treat cancer.

— cindy goodman, miamiherald, "Immunotherapy is giving some cancer patients a new life when they had all but given up | Miami Herald," 25 May 2018
Neither Kailen, her 11-year-old brother, nor Keanna, her eight-year-old sister, inherited the right mix of genetic markers to donate to their sister.

— paul sisson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Can you help six-year-old Kalea Ramos beat leukemia?," 29 May 2018
The field of behavioral genetics is the branch of science that seeks to answer the complex and often politicized question of nature vs. nurture, by looking at the interplay between genetic markers and human action.

— elijah wolfson, Newsweek, "My Genes Did It!," 5 Mar. 2014
Four days later, armed with her DNA roadmap, doctors were able to pinpoint genetic markers for Ohtahara syndrome, a neurological disorder.

— tarpley hitt, miamiherald, "New rapid genetic sequencing saved this baby. Now, the test is coming to Miami | Miami Herald," 30 Apr. 2018
A year earlier, Holes had identified a rare genetic marker in the assailant's DNA.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "Man suffers graze wound in Central City: NOPD," 27 Apr. 2018
Children inherit one genetic marker from each parent at every location on a chromosome.

— doug stevens, latimes.com, "How familial DNA searches work," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'genetic marker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of genetic marker

1932

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

genetic marker

noun

medical Definition of genetic marker

: a readily recognizable genetic trait, gene, DNA segment, or gene product used for identification purposes especially when closely linked to a trait or to genetic material that is difficult to identify — called also marker