URACIL Meaning and
Definition
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Uracil is a nitrogenous organic compound that belongs to the heterocyclic aromatic pyrimidine family. It is a fundamental component of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and plays a critical role in the transmission of genetic information from DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) to protein synthesis. It is often referred to as one of the four nucleobases found in RNA, along with adenine, guanine, and cytosine.
Uracil is a small, single-ringed molecule consisting of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms. It has the chemical formula C4H4N2O2 and a molecular weight of 112.1 g/mol. Structurally, it is similar to thymine, another pyrimidine base found in DNA, but uracil lacks a methyl group.
Within the context of RNA, uracil functions as a complementary base pair to adenine during the transcription process, where RNA is synthesized from DNA. During translation, when RNA is used as a template to produce proteins, uracil's pairing preference with adenine allows for accurate formation of codons, the three-letter codes that specify amino acids.
Uracil also participates in several biochemical reactions, including catalyzing enzymatic reactions and serving as a key player in energy transfer processes. Moreover, it possesses unique chemical properties that make it susceptible to modifications, which can affect RNA stability and contribute to regulatory mechanisms in gene expression.
Overall, uracil is an indispensable component in the genetic machinery of living organisms, fulfilling essential roles in the flow of genetic information and the synthesis of proteins.
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A pyrimidine base, C4H4N2O2, derived from various nucleic acids; it occurs in the form of acicular crystals arranged in rosettes.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for URACIL
Etymology of URACIL
The word "uracil" comes from the combination of two words: "urea" and "carbonyl".
The first part, "urea", refers to a chemical compound that was discovered in the urine of mammals and was named by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828. It is derived from the Latin word "urina", meaning urine.
The second part, "carbonyl", refers to a functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O). It is derived from the Latin word "carbo", which means charcoal.
The combination of "urea" and "carbonyl" in "uracil" reflects the chemical structure of the nitrogenous base. Uracil is a pyrimidine base found in RNA (ribonucleic acid), a molecule involved in protein synthesis.
Similar spelling words for URACIL
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