Glycocoll

/ˈɡlaɪkəkɔl/ noun

Definition

An older chemical name for the amino acid glycine, which is the simplest amino acid and a building block of proteins.

Etymology

From Greek 'glykys' (sweet) + 'kolla' (glue). Named in the 1800s because it was one of the first amino acids isolated and had a sweet taste, plus it was found in gelatin (a glue-like substance).

Kelly Says

Glycocoll got its name partly because it tastes sweet—this was how early chemists identified and named compounds, by literally tasting them (which would definitely not pass a modern safety review!).

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