Definition

A type of highly toxic substance made of small protein-like molecules, which is found in certain mushrooms and can harm living cells by blocking important processes.

Example

Amanitin is known for its potent toxicity and is often studied in toxicology.

Conversation

Did you know that amanitin can be found in some mushrooms?

Really? I had no idea mushrooms could be so dangerous.

Yeah, it’s pretty scary how toxic amanitin is for our bodies.

I guess we need to be careful about foraging for wild mushrooms then!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Amanitin is derived from the genus name 'Amanita' (from Latin 'Amanita', referring to a type of mushroom) and the suffix '-in' (used in chemistry to denote substances). The word 'amanitin' refers to a specific toxin produced by certain mushrooms of the Amanita genus.

Memory Tip

Think of 'Amanita', the type of mushroom that produces this toxin, and remember that 'amanitin' is the substance derived from it.

Visually Confused Words