A blue protein found in the blood serum of mollusks and arthropods, containing copper instead of iron like hemoglobin.
From Latin 'cuprum' (copper) plus the protein suffix '-in'. This term was created to distinguish it from iron-based proteins.
Cuprein reveals that evolution found multiple solutions to carrying oxygen—while vertebrates like us use iron-based hemoglobin, some sea creatures evolved copper-based proteins that work just as well, showing nature's chemical creativity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.