Definition

A chemical compound that is a building block of RNA and plays a key role in coding genetic information.

Example

Uracil is one of the four bases found in RNA, pairing with adenine during the formation of RNA strands.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of uracil?

Yeah, I learned about it in my biology class.

It's interesting how it's a key part of RNA, right?

Definitely! It plays a crucial role in coding genetic information.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Uracil is formed from "ura-" (derived from "uracil", a component of RNA) and "-cil" (a suffix used in organic chemistry to denote a small molecule). The word refers to a specific nitrogenous base found in RNA, which is essential for genetic coding.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ura-' as relating to RNA, and '-cil' indicating a small molecule. This helps you remember that uracil is a small component of RNA.

Visually Confused Words