adenine

noun

ad·​e·​nine ˈa-də-ˌnēn 

: a purine base C₅H₅N₅ that codes hereditary information in the genetic code in DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil

Examples of adenine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All living organisms have DNA that is made of four nucleotide bases–adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2024

Agilent developed a way to print strands of DNA from the four nucleic acid bases—cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), and thymine (T). —Phillip W. Barth, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Mar. 2024

This storage system works by converting digital information to the elements that make up DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). —Emma Roth, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2023

The molecule is made up of the chemical bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine—shortened to A, C, G, and T—which pair off to form a double helix. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Adenin, from Greek aden-, adḗn "gland" + German -in -ine entry 2; so called from its presence in glandular tissue — more at adeno-

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing adenine

• flavin adenine dinucleotide
• nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
• nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Kids Definition

adenine

noun

ad·​e·​nine ˈad-ᵊn-ēn 

: one of the bases which make up the genetic code of DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil

Medical Definition

adenine

noun

ad·​e·​nine ˈad-ᵊn-ˌēn 

: a purine base C₅H₅N₅ that codes hereditary information in the genetic code in DNA and RNA compare cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil