A substance in plants that serves as a precursor to starch synthesis, or a starch-producing substance.
From amylo- (starch) plus -gen (from Greek genein, meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate'). The -gen suffix appears in oxygen (acid-producer), hydrogen (water-producer), and pathogen (disease-producer).
The -gen suffix is a chemistry and biology superpower—it means something is a producer or precursor. Oxygen 'produces' acids, hydrogens 'make' water, pathogens 'generate' disease, and amylogen 'creates' starch. Spot the -gen, understand what something does!
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