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)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web One copy, called fetal hemoglobin, is typically active only in fetuses, shutting down within a few months after birth. 
New York Times, 27 June 2022 For reasons that are still not fully understood, the medication ramps up production of fetal hemoglobin—the alpha-gamma version of the protein that’s present right after birth. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022 In both cases, the therapy does not shut off a target gene but instead delivers a gene that boosts production of healthy fetal hemoglobin—a gene normally turned off shortly after birth. Jim Daley, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2021 For the sickle-cell patient, the fetal hemoglobin accounted for half her total a year after the procedure. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 Dec. 2020 One of the ideas that has been considered for treating these anemias is to reactivate the fetal hemoglobin gene. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 Dec. 2020 The results of the sickle cell trial showed the treatment proved effective in increasing the level of fetal hemoglobin while reducing the level of the sickle hemoglobin. Paul Adepoju, Quartz Africa, 8 Dec. 2020 For example, reversing the fetal hemoglobin off switch, as the new CRISPR and RNA-based gene therapy strategies do, allows blood cells to make natural levels of the protein. Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, 5 Dec. 2020 Blood cells filled with fetal hemoglobin do not sickle. Gina Kolata, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Jan. 2020 See More
New York Times, 27 June 2022 For reasons that are still not fully understood, the medication ramps up production of fetal hemoglobin—the alpha-gamma version of the protein that’s present right after birth. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022 In both cases, the therapy does not shut off a target gene but instead delivers a gene that boosts production of healthy fetal hemoglobin—a gene normally turned off shortly after birth. Jim Daley, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2021 For the sickle-cell patient, the fetal hemoglobin accounted for half her total a year after the procedure. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 Dec. 2020 One of the ideas that has been considered for treating these anemias is to reactivate the fetal hemoglobin gene. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 Dec. 2020 The results of the sickle cell trial showed the treatment proved effective in increasing the level of fetal hemoglobin while reducing the level of the sickle hemoglobin. Paul Adepoju, Quartz Africa, 8 Dec. 2020 For example, reversing the fetal hemoglobin off switch, as the new CRISPR and RNA-based gene therapy strategies do, allows blood cells to make natural levels of the protein. Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, 5 Dec. 2020 Blood cells filled with fetal hemoglobin do not sickle. Gina Kolata, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1950, in the meaning defined above
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