Definition

A type of crystalline substance found in guano and present in certain glands of mammals, including the liver and pancreas.

Example

Guanin is an important component in the biochemistry of living organisms.

Conversation

Did you know that guanin is found in our bodies?

Really? I had no idea it was a part of us.

Yeah, it's also in guano, which is pretty interesting!

That’s cool! I guess nature has a lot of surprises.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Guanin originates from the Spanish word 'guanina', which is derived from 'guano' (meaning fertilizer, specifically bird droppings) and the suffix '-in' (used in chemistry to denote substances). Guanin refers to a nucleobase found in DNA and RNA, which is derived from the guano that contains high levels of nitrogenous compounds.

Memory Tip

Think of 'guano', which is a fertilizer made from bird droppings, to remember that 'guanin' is a substance related to the building blocks of life.

Visually Confused Words