Glycogens

/ˈɡlaɪkədʒənz/ noun

Definition

Plural form of glycogen; multiple instances or types of the branched polymer that stores glucose in animal cells.

Etymology

From 'glycogen' (from Greek 'glykys' meaning sweet + 'gennao' meaning produce) + '-s' (standard English plural). Glycogen itself was named in the 1850s when chemists first isolated this storage molecule.

Kelly Says

Different glycogens in different animals actually have slightly different structures—fish store glycogen differently than mammals, and this variation helps scientists understand how evolution fine-tuned energy storage!

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