Bromouracil

/ˌbroʊmoʊˈjʊrəsɪl/ noun

Definition

A synthetic chemical compound similar to a DNA building block that can cause mutations when incorporated into DNA during replication.

Etymology

From 'bromo-' (containing bromine) + 'uracil' (a natural base found in RNA). Scientists created this in the 1950s to study how mutations occur in genetic material.

Kelly Says

Bromouracil is a mutagen that sneaks into DNA like a spy—cells mistake it for the normal base thymine, leading to copying errors. This helped scientists understand how radiation causes mutations!

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