Antedonin

/ænˈtɛd.ə.nɪn/ noun

Definition

A toxin or poison extracted from the sea lily Antedon, used in scientific research.

Etymology

From 'Antedon' (the sea lily genus) + '-in' (a common suffix for chemical compounds and alkaloids). Named by scientists studying the defensive chemicals of these creatures.

Kelly Says

Marine biologists discovered that sea lilies produce antedonin as a defense against predators, and studying these ocean toxins has led to discoveries that help develop new medicines and understanding how ancient marine ecosystems worked.

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