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[Closed] Can someone give me an idiots definition of a disease phenotype?
"Five phenotypes of knee OA patients were identified: “minimal joint disease phenotype,” “strong muscle
phenotype,” “nonobese and weak muscle phenotype,” “obese and weak muscle phenotype,” and “depressive phenotype.” The “depressive phenotype” and “obese and weak muscle phenotype” showed higher pain levels and more severe activity limitations than the other 3 phenotypes."
That's the bit that is throwing me. Is it simply saying that there are 5 subgroups?
Yeah just means classifications, does my head in when they use words like that.
Thought as much - cheers.
Here's a bit more for you:
"The population of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients is heterogeneous, characterized by variations in pathophysiologic etiologies, disease progression, underlying mechanisms of OA pain, severity of pain and activity limitations (clinical outcome), functional decline, and treatment response .
The identification of different phenotypes of knee OA patients may be highly relevant to disease treatment."
It's like wading through neck deep treacle, but it is going to be the glue that holds my dissertation together.
Phenotype is to do with observable characteristics and traits - from a biology point of view its counterpart is the Genotype, the genetic make-up.
They are obviously often closely connected (genes determining outward characteristics), but can be separate. Think of dolphins that have learnt to stir mud up in circles to catch fish. They are not genetically distinct from other pods of dolphins, but show a different phenotype - they could be termed 'mud-stirring' dolphins.
The usage has become a bit bastardised in recent times just to be a posh word for classifications, though.
I just did a wee final search for articles to see if I could dredge up any others that my many previous searches didnt. It made my dissertation blow up in my face - 222 articles returned, all of which are relevent. D'oh!
Genotype is what you are programmed to look like. Phenotype is how you actually turn out as a result of the modifying effect of environmental factors.
e.g. genetically I am sure I am programmed to look like George Clooney but as a result of the hard life I have led I sadly look more like George Formby.
Proper definitions [url= http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/BioInfo/SD.Geno.HP.html ]here.[/url]
In this case,if I understand correctly, it is being used to define different classes of individual, who may be more or less prone to a particular disease, on the basis of their physical characteristics.