Cytosine Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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cytosine
[ˈsaɪtəˌsiːn ]
Definition
biochemistry, genetics
Cytosine is one of the four main bases found in DNA and RNA, represented by the letter 'C'. It is a pyrimidine base, pairing with guanine in DNA and with guanine in RNA. Cytosine plays a critical role in the encoding of genetic information and is fundamental to the structure of nucleic acids.
Synonyms
C, nucleobase.
Examples of usage
- Cytosine pairs with guanine in DNA.
- Mutations in cytosine can affect gene expression.
- Cytosine is important for DNA stability.
Translations
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Origin of 'cytosine'
The term 'cytosine' comes from the Greek word 'kytos', meaning 'cell', and the suffix '-ine', which is often used in the nomenclature of organic compounds. The compound was first isolated from the nucleic acid of the cell in the late 19th century. Cytosine was discovered by German chemist Hermann Emil Fischer and first synthesized in 1894. Since then, its structural and functional characteristics have been extensively studied, leading to significant advancements in molecular biology and genetics. Cytosine's role as a component of nucleic acids and its pairing with guanine were elucidated in the mid-20th century as part of the development of the double helix model of DNA, contributing to our understanding of genetic coding and inheritance.