precursor

precursor /pre·cur·sor/ (pre´kur-ser) something that precedes. In biological processes, a substance from which another, usually more active or mature, substance is formed. In clinical medicine, a sign or symptom that heralds another.precur´sory

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pre·cur·sor (pr-kûrsr, prkûrsr)

n.

1. One that precedes and indicates something to come.

2. One that precedes another; a forerunner or predecessor.

3. A biochemical substance, such as an intermediate compound in a chain of enzymatic reactions, that gives rise to a more stable or definitive product.

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precursor

[-kur′sər]

Etymology: L, prae + currere, to run

1 something preceding, or coming before, another.

2 a prognostic characteristic or feature of a patient's health data, such as a radiographic or laboratory finding, that is associated with a higher or lower risk of death than the average.

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precursor

something that precedes. In biological processes, a substance from which another, usually more active or mature substance is formed. In clinical medicine, a clinical sign or syndrome that heralds another.

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precursor fragments

see okazaki fragments.