Pronunciation: v ī - ˌ te-l ō - ' je-n ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from vitellogen esis + 1 -in
Date: 1971
: a precursor protein of egg yolk normally in the blood or hemolymph only of females that is used as a biomarker in vertebrates of exposure to environmental estrogens which stimulate elevated levels in males as well as females