cryptomeren.
/ˈkrɪptə(ʊ)mɪə/, U.S. /ˈkrɪptəˌmɪ(ə)r/ Biology. Now rare.
A genetic factor which is present but not expressed in the phenotype unless activated by another factor; a latent genetic factor.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [noun] > factor > latent factor or quality
cryptomerism1904
cryptomere1906
1906 Nature 14 June 146/2 Due stress is laid on Tschermak's fine series of cases illustrating the influence of hidden factors, or cryptomeres.
1909 W. Bateson Mendel's Princ. Heredity (new ed.) v. 93 Factors which may thus exist without making their presence visible have been named by Tschermak ‘Cryptomeres’.
1943 Amer. Naturalist 77 270 They also, undoubtedly, differ with respect to other cryptomeres.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1906