Definition

A type of carbohydrate made from glucose and mannitol, primarily used for storing food in brown algae.

Example

Laminarin is an important energy source for many marine organisms that feed on brown algae.

Conversation

I just learned about laminarin in my biology class.

Oh really? What is it exactly?

It's a type of polysaccharide found in brown algae that stores energy.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know algae had such unique compounds.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Laminarin is derived from 'lamina' (from Latin, meaning a thin layer or plate) and the suffix '-in' (commonly used in chemistry to denote substances). The word refers to a polysaccharide that is found in certain algae, indicating its layered structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'lamina' meaning a thin layer, which helps you remember that laminarin is a substance related to layers found in algae.

Visually Confused Words