Genomodtränglighet

Genomodtränglighet is a neologism used in some discussions of genetics and synthetic biology to describe the inherent resistance of a genome or gene regulatory network to modification or modulation. The term combines elements of Swedish vocabulary, with gen- referring to gene or genome and tränglighet conveying penetrability or intrusiveness, and is not uniformly defined in the scientific literature. In practice, genomodtränglighet is used to discuss why certain edits fail, persist poorly, or fail to produce the intended regulatory outcomes in cells or organisms.

The concept encompasses several biological factors. Mechanistically, editing outcomes depend on DNA repair pathway choice (for example, non-homologous end joining versus homology-directed repair), chromatin accessibility at the target locus, and the presence of epigenetic marks. Delivery barriers, immune sensing of vectors, and selective pressures can also decrease the apparent penetrance of modifications, contributing to a perception of resistance.

Implications include the design of genome-editing strategies, assessment of safety and efficacy in gene therapy, and the interpretation of editing experiments. A clear definition is important because the term can cover diverse phenomena, from technical inefficiency to biologically robust resistance.

Critics argue that the term risks conflating distinct processes and encourage either standardized terminology or explicit descriptions of the underlying mechanism (editing efficiency, regulatory silencing, immune response, etc.). See also genome editing, gene therapy, epigenetics, and DNA repair.