Capsomers

/kæpˈsoʊmərz/ noun

Definition

Plural of capsomer; multiple protein subunits that together form the protective shell of a virus.

Etymology

Plural form of capsomer, from capsid and the Greek suffix -mer meaning part or division.

Kelly Says

A single virus particle might contain hundreds of identical capsomers arranged in such perfect symmetry that scientists initially thought viruses must be crystalline structures, not living things!

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