Secretor status
Secretor status (pronunciation: /siːˈkriːtər ˈsteɪtəs/) is a term used in medical genetics to describe the presence or absence of soluble blood group antigens in bodily fluids, such as saliva, sweat, tears, semen, and serum. The term originates from the Latin word "secretor," meaning "to separate."
Etymology
The term "secretor" is derived from the Latin word "secretor," which means "to separate." This is in reference to the ability of certain individuals to secrete their blood group antigens into their bodily fluids.
Definition
A person's secretor status is determined by the presence of the FUT2 gene. Individuals who are secretors have a functioning FUT2 gene, which allows for the secretion of blood group antigens into bodily fluids. Non-secretors, on the other hand, have a non-functioning FUT2 gene and do not secrete blood group antigens into their bodily fluids.
Related Terms
- FUT2 gene: The gene responsible for determining an individual's secretor status.
- Blood group antigens: Substances that can cause an immune response if they are foreign to the body. In the context of secretor status, these are the substances that are secreted into bodily fluids.
- Medical genetics: The branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders.
Significance
Secretor status can have significant implications for an individual's health. For example, non-secretors are more susceptible to certain infections and diseases, such as Norovirus and Urinary tract infections. On the other hand, secretors are more likely to have certain autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Secretor status
- Wikipedia's article - Secretor status
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski