这是在一篇文章评审过程中，从reviewer那儿学来一个词。就学着用到了修改后的manuscript中，可是另一个reviewer不买账了，这才查了这个词到底有多神秘。

Wiki上关于endophenotype的定义，“Endophenotype is a genetic epidemiology term which is used to parse behavioral symptoms into more stable phenotypes with a clear genetic connection.”

似乎有严格的定义，一要稳定，而要有明确的遗传效应。

当然，wiki也提及了可能用来替代endophenotype的词，“Some other terms which have a similar meaning but do not stress the genetic connection as highly are “intermediate phenotype”, “biological marker”, “subclinical trait”, “vulnerability marker”, and “cognitive marker”.”

看来还是大家常用的biological marker或者subclinical trait相对妥当，除非真的把遗传效应说明白了。