guanine
|gua-nine|
C1
/ˈɡwɑːniːn/
DNA/RNA base
Etymology
Etymology Information
'guanine' originates from the German word 'Guanin', which was derived from 'guano', where 'guano' referred to the excrement of seabirds and bats, rich in nitrogenous compounds.
Historical Evolution
'Guanin' was first isolated from guano in the 19th century and eventually became the modern English word 'guanine'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a substance found in guano, but over time it evolved into its current meaning as a nucleobase in DNA and RNA.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a purine base found in DNA and RNA, which pairs with cytosine.
Guanine is one of the four main nucleobases in the nucleic acids of DNA and RNA.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/20 22:00