- "I define a phenomarker as an analog of a conventional molecular biomarker, but where the readout is a phenotypic measurement rather than a molecular one."
phenomarker
noun blending
A variant, or form, of a particular gene that underlies a particular behavioral, morphological, or physiological phenotype. A 'phenomarker' refers to a concept that is increasingly common in the disciplines of biomedical science, bioinformatics, and digital technology. The term presumably entered into use due to the prevalence of technologies that can sequence genes and translate those identified sequences into patient-personalized diagnoses and treatments. The term is similar to biomarker, which according to Wikipedia, is "a measured characteristic which may be used as an indicator of some biological state or condition." Likewise, a phenomarker refers to a genetic characteristic that indicates a given biological phenotype, or outcome.
Etymology : Blending of "phenotype," an exhibited characteristic in an organism, and "marker," the tangible, genetic determinant underlying that characteristic.
Source : David Shaywitz, "Phenomarkers Could Transform Personalized Medicine; Can Digital Health Deliver?". 24 November 2013.
Last modified: 25 November 2013