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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That approach required taking bone marrow cells out of the body, making a disabling cut in a particular gene that regulates fetal hemoglobin, treating the patient with chemotherapy to make room in the marrow, and then reinfusing the edited cells. Francis Collins, WIRED, 7 Jan. 2025 The form of hemoglobin that babies make at birth, called fetal hemoglobin (HbF), isn’t affected by the sickle mutation. Sara Reardon, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Before birth a fetus with the disease has healthy red blood cells because fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is dominant at that point and is unaffected by the sickle cell mutation. Ambroise Wonkam, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Since the 1990s, clinicians have observed that sickle cell patients with higher levels of fetal hemoglobin tend to live longer. Charlotte Hu, Vox, 6 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for fetal hemoglobin 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal hemoglobin was in 1950

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 30 Jan. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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