penetrance

[ pen-i-truhns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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 ).

penetrance

/ ˈpɛnɪtrəns /

First recorded in 1635–45; penetr(ant) + -ance

C20: from penetr ( ant ) + -ance , on the model of German penetranz

How does penetrance compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

This has to do with the way penetrance is calculated, he says.

“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.

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