| 释义 | thymine/ˈθʌɪmiːn /noun [mass noun] BiochemistryA compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A pyrimidine derivative, it is paired with adenine in double-stranded DNA.The derivatives of purine are called adenine and guanine, and the derivatives of pyrimidine are called thymine, cytosine and uracil....Alternative name; 5-methyluracil; chemical formula: C5H6N2O2.
 Of the four bases that make up DNA - adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine - only cytosine has the potential to be methylated in humans and most mammals.In DNA the bases pair to form a ladder-like structure, with adenine paired with thymine and guanine with cytosine.
OriginLate 19th century: from thymus + -ine4. |