Guanin

/ˈɡwɑːnɪn/ noun

Definition

A crystalline substance, also called guanine, that occurs naturally in guano and other biological sources; a key component of DNA and RNA.

Etymology

From Spanish guano plus chemical suffix -in; originally extracted and named from guano deposits, later understood as a nucleobase fundamental to all life.

Kelly Says

Scientists discovered guanin by analyzing bird poop—one of history's best examples of how studying something seemingly worthless led to understanding the genetic code itself.

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