Adenine (Noun)
Meaning
(biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The DNA double helix is held together by hydrogen bonds between adenine and thymine base pairs.
- In RNA, adenine pairs with uracil instead of thymine, due to the difference in the structure of the two molecules.
- The adenine residues in the DNA molecule are responsible for its high energy phosphate bonds.
- Ultraviolet light can cause damage to DNA by creating lesions in the adenine bases, leading to mutations.
- The hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine is weaker than that between guanine and cytosine, making A-T bonds more susceptible to melting.