adenine

noun

ad·​e·​nine ˈa-də-ˌnēn How to pronounce adenine (audio)
: a purine base C5H5N5 that codes hereditary information in the genetic code in DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil

Examples of adenine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This storage system works by converting digital information to the elements that make up DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). Emma Roth, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2023 The molecule is made up of the chemical bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine—shortened to A, C, G, and T—which pair off to form a double helix. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023 Like with red meat, adenine and hypoxanthine purines are also high in this food group.2 Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads, should be consumed in limited amounts. Anne Harding, Health, 25 Aug. 2023 The molecules are called bases and are represented by the letters A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine), and C (cytosine). IEEE Spectrum, 22 Feb. 2016 But there may have been traces of some of the components, like adenine, because, actually, cyanide is made in those Miller-Urey type experiments, and cyanide fairly easily assembles into adenine. Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2022 These symbols represent the four basic chemical letters, or bases, the body uses to form DNA--guanine, cytosine, adenine and thymine. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 30 Dec. 2010 Rather than inducing random changes in the virus’ RNA genome, the drug is more likely to cause specific nucleic acid substitutions, with guanine switching to adenine and cytosine to uracil. Byrobert F. Service, science.org, 1 Feb. 2023 Stuck to every sugar is a base—the As (adenine), Gs (guanine), Cs (cytosine), and Ts (thymine). Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adenine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Adenin, from Greek aden-, adḗn "gland" + German -in -ine entry 2; so called from its presence in glandular tissue — more at adeno-

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adenine was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near adenine

Cite this Entry

“Adenine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adenine. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

adenine

noun
ad·​e·​nine ˈad-ᵊn-ēn How to pronounce adenine (audio)
: one of the bases which make up the genetic code of DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil

Medical Definition

adenine

noun
ad·​e·​nine ˈad-ᵊn-ˌēn How to pronounce adenine (audio)
: a purine base C5H5N5 that codes hereditary information in the genetic code in DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil

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