Draagster

Draagster is a Dutch noun meaning a person who carries something. It is typically the feminine form of draager, derived from dragen “to carry,” with the agent suffix -ster. In everyday language it can refer to someone who physically carries objects, for example a porter or a person carrying a load.

In genetics, draagster is a standard term for a female who carries a recessive genetic mutation without typically showing symptoms herself. The male equivalent is drager; in practice, draagster is common in Dutch genetic counseling and medical literature when describing female carriers of autosomal recessive conditions or X-linked mutations. Carriers can pass the mutated allele to their offspring, with risks depending on the inheritance pattern. For example, an X-linked recessive condition carried by a mother can result in affected sons and carrier daughters.

Limitations and nuances: Not all carriers have noticeable symptoms; penetrance and expressivity vary by condition. Carrier testing and genetic counseling can inform reproductive choices and management.

The term is primarily used in medical genetics but outside of science contexts it retains a general sense as a person who carries something. In sum, draagster conveys both a literal meaning of carrying and a specialized role in genetics as a female carrier of a genetic trait.