Clonaalisten

Clonaalisten is a Dutch term used to refer to individuals or groups who focus on clonal biology and clonal propagation. The word combines clonaal (clonal) with the suffix -isten, which in Dutch denotes adherents or practitioners. There is no universally accepted definition or formal discipline named 'clonaalisten'; the term occurs mainly in specialist writings and conversations about clonality in biology, medicine, and related fields.

The scope of clonaalisten’s work is diverse. They include researchers, clinicians, breeders, and science communicators who study clonal lineages, tissue clonality, or clonally propagating populations. Common domains are clonal hematopoiesis, clonal evolution in cancer, and clonal propagation in plants and microorganisms. Methods often associated with clonaalisten include lineage tracing, genetic barcoding, and comparative analysis of clones within a tissue or population.

In cancer biology, clonal evolution describes how tumor subclones acquire mutations and selective advantages, leading to intra-tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance; clonaalisten in this area may analyze clonal architecture to understand progression and to guide therapy. In agriculture, the focus is on maintaining desirable traits through clonal propagation. The term remains informal and context-dependent, with usage varying by discipline and language community.

See also: clonal evolution, clonal hematopoiesis, lineage tracing, clonal propagation.