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English

acrasins

|a-cra-sins|

C2

/əˈkreɪsɪnz/

(acrasin)

chemical signal in slime molds

Base FormPlural
acrasinacrasins
Etymology
Etymology Information

'acrasin' originates from the Greek word 'akrasia,' meaning 'lack of control.'

Historical Evolution

'Acrasin' was derived from the Greek term 'akrasia' and adapted into scientific terminology to describe signaling molecules in slime molds.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to 'lack of control,' but in scientific contexts, it evolved to describe a specific type of signaling molecule.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

acrasins are signaling molecules secreted by certain slime molds to coordinate aggregation.

The slime mold uses acrasins to gather its cells into a multicellular structure.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/04/26 08:06