THYMIDINE Meaning and
Definition
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Thymidine is a noun that refers to a pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside, which is a building block of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). It is composed of two main components: a deoxyribose sugar molecule and thymine, one of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA. Thymidine is utilized during DNA synthesis as it serves as a precursor to thymine nucleotides, which are incorporated into the growing DNA strand.
Thymidine plays a crucial role in DNA replication and cell division, as it is essential for the accurate transmission of genetic information. It functions by base pairing with its complementary nucleotide, adenine, during DNA replication, ensuring the fidelity of the DNA sequence. This process is facilitated by enzymes called DNA polymerases, which catalyze the formation of phosphodiester bonds between adjacent nucleotides.
Apart from its fundamental role in DNA synthesis, thymidine also contributes to other important cellular processes. It acts as a precursor in the synthesis of thymidine triphosphate (TTP), which is involved in the production of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and DNA. Additionally, thymidine has been widely used in laboratory research, particularly in studies related to DNA metabolism, genetic diseases, and antiviral drug development.
In summary, thymidine is a fundamental component of DNA, serving as a building block for the accurate replication and transmission of genetic information. Its crucial role in DNA synthesis and its participation in various cellular processes make thymidine a vital molecule in biological systems.
Common Misspellings for THYMIDINE
- rhymidine
- fhymidine
- ghymidine
- yhymidine
- 6hymidine
- 5hymidine
- tgymidine
- tbymidine
- tnymidine
- tjymidine
- tuymidine
- tyymidine
- thtmidine
- thgmidine
- thhmidine
- thumidine
- th7midine
- th6midine
- thynidine
- thmyidine
Etymology of THYMIDINE
The word "thymidine" is derived from the basic chemical component "thymine" and the suffix "-idine".
"Thymine" is one of the four nitrogenous bases that form the building blocks of DNA molecules. It was first isolated and identified by the German chemist Albrecht Kossel in 1893 from the thymus gland, hence the name "thymine". The term "thymine" itself is derived from "thymus", the organ from which it was discovered.
The suffix "-idine" is commonly used to refer to a nucleoside, which consists of a nucleobase (in this case, thymine) linked to a sugar molecule (in this case, deoxyribose). The "-idine" suffix derives from the name of adenine, another nucleobase found in DNA.
