A compound or substance derived from or found in starfish or star-shaped organisms; in chemistry, a star-shaped molecule or polymer.
From 'aster' (star) plus the chemical suffix '-in,' which denotes chemical compounds. The suffix is used similarly in words like 'insulin' and 'keratin' to name organic compounds.
Marine biologists extract weird and wonderful compounds from starfish that have anti-cancer properties and other medicinal uses, so studying these ancient creatures isn't just scientifically fascinating—it might also lead to new medicines.
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