basophilic nucleoprotein granules in the cytoplasm or the vacuoles of certain microorganisms
Word origin
[‹ G Volutin (1903), equiv. to (Spirillum) volut(ans) a species of bacteria + -in-in2]-in is a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature(glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances havingthe termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids(albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed