adenine

What is another word for adenine? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — One of the four bases in DNA, a purine. It bonds with thymine in DNA, and uracil takes thymine's place in RNA.

We haven't recorded synonyms for adenine yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use adenine

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

adenine and thymine adenine base adenine nucleotide pairs with adenine

It is a technical term used in biochemistry and genetics.

Etymology

The word came into English from German Adenin, which comes from Ancient Greek adēn, meaning gland. The German biochemist Albrecht Kossel named it in 1885 after the pancreas, the gland from which he extracted his sample.

Full origin of adenine →

Frequently asked questions

What is adenine?

Adenine is one of the four bases in DNA, a purine. It bonds with thymine in DNA, and uracil takes thymine's place in RNA.

What does adenine pair with?

In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine. In RNA, it pairs with uracil.

Where does the word adenine come from?

It comes from German Adenin, which traces back to the Ancient Greek word for gland. Albrecht Kossel named it in 1885 after the pancreas.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of adenine