methanogenic

adjective

me·​than·​o·​gen·​ic mə-ˌtha-nə-ˈje-nik 

: producing methane as a by-product of energy metabolism : of, relating to, or being a methanogen

Most atmospheric methane appears to be microbially generated, originating from methane producing (methanogenic) archaea that live in anaerobic pockets around the globe.

—Edward F. DeLong

also : of, relating to, or involved in methanogenesis

Methanogenic pathways determine both the carbon and hydrogen isotopic signatures of the emitted CH₄, which in turn can be used to better constrain the global methane budget.

—Michael Bock et al.

methanogenic enzymes

Examples of methanogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The methane output of other methanogenic archaea is already being used as fuel, which is why such organisms can be especially useful. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2025

Methane-Reducing Jabs Another way to shift the rumen’s microbial community away from methanogenesis could be to vaccinate livestock against methanogenic microbes. —Bob Holmes, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2024

Methane-reducing jabs Another way to shift the rumen’s microbial community away from methanogenesis could be to vaccinate livestock against methanogenic microbes. —Bob Holmes, Ars Technica, 20 June 2024

There may even be methanogenic bacteria at the planet’s poles. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2024

The methane-producing methanogens had been detected previously, and Raymann’s study provides additional evidence that this functional group is dominant: no non-methanogenic lineages were seen in human samples. —Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2017

Similar technologies in other countries also suggest feeding livestock anti-methanogenic supplements could lead to cattle and sheep conserving more energy for food production. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2023

The latest fight against livestock methane pushes Rumin8’s goal of finding compounds with anti-methanogenic properties that can feed livestock while reducing emissions. —Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 26 Jan. 2023

Rumin8 identifies naturally occurring compounds with anti-methanogenic properties and reproduces them in a highly efficient, low-cost, scalable, and high-quality process to feed to livestock to reduce their emissions. —Quartz, 24 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

methane + -o- + -genic

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for methanogenic

• angiogenic
• anthropogenic
• atherogenic
• carcinogenic
• cardiogenic
• embryogenic
• iatrogenic
• immunogenic
• metallogenic
• nonpathogenic
• odontogenic
• osteogenic

Medical Definition

methanogenic

adjective

me·​than·​o·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik 

: of or relating to the methanogens or methanogenesis