AD-uh-neen
/ˈædəˌnin/
Adenine is pronounced AD-uh-neen (/ˈædəˌnin/). Adenine is a purine nucleobase found in DNA and RNA that pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA. It is a fundamental component of genetic material, contributing to the encoding of genetic information and cellular energy transfer pathways through its role in ATP and other cofactors. In biochemistry discussions, adenine is often abbreviated as A and is crucial for nucleotide structure and function.
nounAdenine is a purine nucleobase found in DNA and RNA that pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA. It is a fundamental component of genetic material, contributing to the encoding of genetic information and cellular energy transfer pathways through its role in ATP and other cofactors. In biochemistry discussions, adenine is often abbreviated as A and is crucial for nucleotide structure and function.
How to Pronounce Adenine
"The sequencing data showed a mutation at adenine 45 in the gene sequence."
"Adenine forms hydrogen bonds with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA during replication and transcription."
"Researchers study adenine’s role in ATP synthesis and energy transfer in cells."
Adenine is pronounced /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/ in US and UK. The stress pattern is 2-nd syllable primary stress on the first syllable? Actually: a-DE-ne? Wait: Standard is AH-duh-neen? Let me provide accurate: /ˈæ.dəˌnaɪn/? No. Correct is /ˈæ.dɪˌniːn/? Common is AH-duh-neen. For safety: US: /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/ ; UK: /ˈad.ən.iːn/ ; AU: /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/. Audio reference: consult Pronounce or Forvo. In casual terms: 'AD-eh-neen' with 'de' as schwa. IPA: US /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/, UK /ˈæ.dən.iːn/, AU /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/.
Common errors: misplacing stress, pronouncing as a three-syllable with even stress (A-DE-neen) instead of the natural stress: first syllable with secondary on second (ˈæ.dəˌniːn). Another mistake: elongating the middle 'i' or turning 'ine' into /ɪn/ rather than /iːn/. Correction: keep unstressed 'duh' as a weak schwa and finalize with a long 'een' /niːn/. Practice by saying 'AD-uh-neen' with emphasis on first and a light second syllable stress where appropriate.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/ with rhotic influence and a clear final /niːn/. UK often uses /ˈæ.dən.iːn/ with a slightly reduced second syllable and non-rhotic rhymes; AU tends toward /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/ with a more open first vowel and broader 'a' in 'A'. Vowel quality differences are subtle; side-by-side: US rhotic, UK less rhotic in strict form, AU somewhere between. Use careful IPA checks and listen to native science talks for nuance.
Three main challenges: the 'a' in the first syllable often reduced or mispronounced, the middle syllable sticks with a weak vowel, and the final 'ine' creates confusion between /iːn/ and /ɪn/. The cluster /d/ + /ən/ can sound like 'den' vs 'din'. Focus on keeping a clean schwa in the middle and ending with a long 'ee n' sound. IPA guidance helps: US /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/.
The potential for a subtle syllable pause between 'A' and 'den' in rapid speech isn’t standard but appears in some speakers: saying 'A-den-ine' can feel over-emphasized. In careful readings, keep the sequence fluid: /ˈæ.dəˌniːn/ with no strong pause between first two syllables, letting the middle syllable remain light.
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Adenine derives from the Greek aden, meaning gland, reflecting early discovery in connection to adenosine-containing compounds like adenylate. The term itself entered scientific vocabulary in the late 19th to early 20th century as chemists and biologists formalized nucleotide structure. It is a purine base, one of two types of nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids, the other being pyrimidines. Historically, adenine was identified in nucleic acid extracts as a component responsible for energy metabolism and genetic information transfer. Its modern designation as a nucleobase and its role within adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) grew from conceptual frameworks around nucleotides, base pairing rules, and metabolic cofactors. The first reported isolation of adenine traces can be found in studies of DNA and RNA synthesis in the early to mid-20th century, with subsequent development of molecular biology solidifying its canonical status as a fundamental nucleobase (abbreviated as A in genetic sequences).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Adenine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Adenine"
-ine sounds
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