biomarker

[bahy-oh-mahr-ker]

noun

1. a distinct biochemical, genetic, or molecular characteristic or substance that is an indicator of a particular biological condition or process.

   a blood test to measure protein biomarkers for cancer.

biomarker

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌmɑːkə /

noun

1. another name for biological marker

Word History and Origins

Origin of biomarker¹

First recorded in 1970–75; bio- ( def. ) + marker ( def. )

Example Sentences

Scientists are now closer to identifying a biomarker that may allow doctors to detect the disease much earlier and develop new ways to protect the eye.

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The study drew on blood protein biomarker data from the PHRI-led Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological study, an international research initiative.

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These results suggest that measuring CtBP2 in the blood could serve as a useful biomarker for assessing both biological aging and overall health.

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"The human body itself doesn't make methane, only the microbes do. So we suggested it can be a biomarker that signals efficient microbial production of short-chain fatty acids," says Rosy Krajmalnik-Brown, corresponding author of the study and director of the Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes.

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Mice exposed to the complex, for instance, also showed elevated levels of phospho-tau181, a biomarker used in humans to detect Alzheimer's years before symptoms arise.

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