Canavalin

/kænəˈvælin/ noun

Definition

A protein compound found in sword beans and other Canavalia legumes, used in biochemical research and potentially in medicine.

Etymology

From Canavalia (the plant genus) plus -in, a suffix denoting chemical compounds and proteins. Created by biochemists studying these tropical legumes.

Kelly Says

Scientists created this word by combining a plant name with a chemistry suffix—canavalin turned out to have pharmaceutical properties that researchers are still exploring today!

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