penetrance

American  

[pen-i-truhns] / ˈpɛn ɪ trəns /

noun

Genetics.

1. the frequency, expressed as a percentage, with which a particular gene produces its effect in a group of organisms.

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penetrance British  

/ ˈpɛnɪtrəns /

noun

1. genetics the percentage frequency with which a gene exhibits its effect

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Etymology

Origin of penetrance

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

Compare meaning

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

• penetrance vs. expressivity

Example Sentences

So great became Nate’s cultural penetrance that he was featured in “Got milk?” advertisements by the dairy industry and on Cheerios cereal boxes for a literacy campaign.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2019

Not much penetrance of charters in geographic areas with successful schools.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2017

Many types of data can be used to evaluate clinical validity and utility, including the penetrance of genetic variation on drug effects, which can be determined from retrospective studies.

From Nature • Oct. 13, 2015

Oceans may be thought of as consisting of different zones based on water depth, distance from the shoreline, and light penetrance.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Scientists call this state incomplete penetrance, and they often have no idea how people escape.

From Slate • Jul. 27, 2012