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fetal hemoglobin
noun
: a hemoglobin variant that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (such as thalassemia)
Examples of fetal hemoglobin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The procedure can essentially be a cure for many, freeing people from sickle cell’s painful episodes and frequent blood transfusions—and the life-changing treatment is based on Orkin’s research identifying the genes that regulate fetal hemoglobin.
—TIME, 2 May 2024
Scientists want to reactivate the effective fetal hemoglobin in adult blood cells.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
Researchers had previously identified a certain genetic mutation that causes fetal hemoglobin to persist into adulthood.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 8 Dec. 2023
In the first several months of life, levels of fetal hemoglobin taper down and the body starts making adult hemoglobin instead.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2023
In the case of sickle cell, this change promotes production of fetal hemoglobin, which takes the place of the mutated hemoglobin, reducing the number of cells that sickle.
—Janice Blanchard, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2023
The goal became finding ways to increase fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell patients.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 21 Aug. 2023
These gene-editing technologies target the part of the gene that produces fetal hemoglobin, enabling the body to produce high levels of fetal hemoglobin, Hanna said.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 21 Aug. 2023
While searching for other possible treatments, researchers noticed that sickle cell patients who did well naturally had high levels of fetal hemoglobin — the hemoglobin inside babies when they are born.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 21 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fetal hemoglobin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1950, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fetal hemoglobin
Cite this Entry
“Fetal hemoglobin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal%20hemoglobin. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
fetal hemoglobin
noun
: hemoglobin that consists of two alpha chains and two gamma chains and that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (as thalassemia)
called also hemoglobin F
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