markerassisterad

Markerassisterad is a term from Swedish that translates to “marker-assisted” in English. It describes processes or strategies that rely on biological markers—such as DNA sequences, proteins, or other measurable indicators—to aid decision making, selection, or diagnosis in research and practice. The term is commonly used in genetics, plant and animal breeding, and clinical diagnostics.

In plant and animal breeding, markerassisterad selektion (MAS) uses DNA markers linked to desirable traits to screen individuals in breeding programs. This accelerates development of new varieties or lines by allowing selection at the seedling stage without waiting for performance in the field or pen. Markers are typically single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or other polymorphisms verified to associate with traits such as yield, disease resistance, or quality.

In medicine, markerassisterad testing or decision-making refers to strategies guided by biomarkers—genetic variants, expression profiles, or other molecular indicators. Examples include pharmacogenomic testing to tailor drug choice and dosing, or diagnostic panels that classify diseases and predict prognosis.

Methodology and limitations: Marker discovery, validation, and genotyping are required. Marker-trait associations may be population-specific; markers must be robust across cohorts. Costs, infrastructure, and interpretation complexity are considerations. Ethical, legal, and social implications may arise in genetic testing. Markerassisterad approaches aim to improve accuracy and efficiency when markers reliably reflect underlying traits or outcomes.