How Do You Spell BIOPHORE?

Pronunciation: [bˌa͡ɪə͡ʊfˈɔː] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "biophore" may seem confusing to some due to its pronunciation. It is pronounced as /baɪəfoʊr/, with the emphasis on the second syllable. This word is used in biology to refer to a hypothetical unit of heredity that carries specific traits. Interestingly, the term was coined in the late 19th century by a German biologist named Ernst Haeckel. Despite its complicated spelling and somewhat obscure usage, "biophore" remains an important word in the biological sciences.

BIOPHORE Meaning and Definition

1. A biophore is a term used in the field of biology to refer to a fundamental unit or structure of a molecule that is believed to be responsible for its particular biological activity or function. The concept of the biophore was originally proposed by the German biologist Paul Ehrlich in the late 19th century as a means to explain the specific interaction between drugs and their targets in the body.

   In essence, a biophore can be thought of as a key that fits into a lock, where the key represents the biophore and the lock represents the biological target. The biophore contains specific chemical groups or atomic arrangements that are essential for its activity, and when it interacts with the corresponding target, it elicits a biological response.

   The understanding of biophores has been particularly useful in the field of drug discovery and design. By identifying the biophore of a particular drug molecule, scientists can gain insights into its mechanism of action and develop more effective and targeted therapeutics. Additionally, the concept of biophores has also been applied to other biological molecules, such as enzymes and antibodies, to understand their structure-function relationships.

   Overall, the term biophore is synonymous with a functional or active region within a molecule that is critical for its biological function. It has revolutionized the way scientists approach the design of drugs and the study of biological molecules, providing a framework to better understand their mode of action and interactions within the body.

2. The ultimate unit, according to Weissmann, an aggregation of which composes the determinant, which in turn is one of the units forming the id; it is so named on the supposition that in it resides the vitality of the cell.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for BIOPHORE

• biophode
• fiophore

Etymology of BIOPHORE

The word "biophore" has Greek origins and is derived from two Greek words: "bio" meaning life and "phore" meaning carrier or bearer. In biology, the term "biophore" was first used by the German zoologist August Weismann in the late 19th century. He used the term to describe hypothetical elements or units responsible for heredity and genetic information transmission. The concept of biophores eventually contributed to the development of the chromosome theory of inheritance in modern genetics.

Plural form of BIOPHORE is BIOPHORES