Nucleobase: meaning, definitions and examples
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nucleobase
[ ˈnjuːklɪəʊbeɪs ]
biochemistry, genetics
A nucleobase is a nitrogen-containing biological molecule that contributes to the structure of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. There are five primary nucleobases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil. These bases engage in specific pairing interactions that are critical for the stability of nucleic acid structures and for the encoding of genetic information.
Synonyms
nitrogenous base, nucleotide base
Examples of usage
- Adenine is one of the four nucleobases in DNA.
- The sequence of nucleobases determines genetic information.
- Nucleobases pair with each other to form the rungs of the DNA ladder.
Translations
Translations of the word "nucleobase" in other languages:
🇵🇹 nucleobase
🇮🇳 न्यूक्लियोबेस
🇩🇪 Nukleobase
🇮🇩 nukleobasa
🇺🇦 нуклеобаза
🇵🇱 nukleobaza
🇯🇵 ヌクレオバース
🇫🇷 nucléobase
🇪🇸 nucleobase
🇹🇷 nükleobaz
🇰🇷 뉴클레오베이스
🇸🇦 قاعدة نوكليو
🇨🇿 nukleobáze
🇸🇰 nukleobáza
🇨🇳 核苷酸
🇸🇮 nukleobaza
🇮🇸 kjarnsýra
🇰🇿 нуклеобаза
🇬🇪 ნუკლეობაზა
🇦🇿 nukleobaza
🇲🇽 nucleobase
Word origin
The term 'nucleobase' derives from the combination of two components: 'nucleo-', which is a prefix relating to nucleic acids and nucleotides, and 'base', which refers to nitrogenous compounds that are capable of accepting protons. The concept of nucleobases emerged with the discovery of DNA in the early 20th century, and the structure of these bases became increasingly understood as scientists investigated the molecular basis of heredity. Nucleobases are foundational to the structure of nucleic acids, which were first identified in the late 1860s by Friedrich Miescher. Subsequent research, particularly in the mid-20th century, led to the elucidation of the double helix structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick, highlighting the importance of nucleobases in genetics. The specific pairing of these bases is crucial for replication and transcription processes, which are fundamental to cellular function and heredity.