4 syllables: Cy, to, si, ne. Stress on Cy.
SEYE-tuh-seen
/ˈsaɪtəˌsiːn/
Cytosine is pronounced SEYE-tuh-seen (/ˈsaɪtəˌsiːn/). It has four syllables (Cy-to-si-ne), with the stress on "Cy". Cytosine is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic base used in nucleic acids. It pairs with guanine in DNA and RNA and is one of the four main bases of nucleic acids. In chemistry and biology contexts, cytosine is discussed as a component of genetic material and a substrate in metabolic processes.
nounCytosine is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic base used in nucleic acids. It pairs with guanine in DNA and RNA and is one of the four main bases of nucleic acids. In chemistry and biology contexts, cytosine is discussed as a component of genetic material and a substrate in metabolic processes.
How to Pronounce Cytosine
"The sequence includes cytosine at several positions in the gene."
"Researchers studied cytosine modification as part of epigenetic research."
"Cytosine forms three hydrogen bonds with guanine in the DNA double helix."
Cytosine is pronounced SAHY-toh-seen. The primary stress is on the first syllable: SAHY. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈsaɪtoʊˌsiːn/ (US), /ˈsaɪtəʊˌsiːn/ (UK), /ˈsaɪtəsiːn/ (AU). Start with the long I in the first syllable, then a light ‘to’ followed by a clear final ‘seen.’ Mouth positions: start with a diphthong /ˈsaɪ/ with tongue high and lips neutral, then /toʊ/ as a rounded mid-back vowel, finishing with /siːn/ with a steady high front vowel and a nasal end. For clarity, emphasize the ‘si’ as /siː/ and avoid turning it into /sɪ/.”,
Common errors: 1) Stressing the second syllable instead of the first (cy-TO-sine). Correction: keep primary stress on CY or SAHY- at the start. 2) Muddling the final sound into /sɪn/ rather than /siːn/. Correction: lengthen the final vowel to /siːn/. 3) Slurring the 'to' into /tə/ or /toʊ/ without proper rounded /oʊ/. Correction: keep a clear /toʊ/ with a gentle lip rounding. Focus on crisp consonants: /ˈsaɪtoʊˌsiːn/.
US pronunciation: /ˈsaɪtoʊˌsiːn/ with noticeable /oʊ/ in second syllable. UK: /ˈsaɪtəʊˌsiːn/ with a shorter first vowel and a clear /əʊ/ in the second syllable; accent less rhotic influence on /ˈsaɪtə/ but keeps final /siːn/. AU: /ˈsaɪtəsiːn/ or /ˈsaɪtəˌsiːn/, with more fronted /iː/ and a non-rhotic tendency; vowel quality sounding closer to /iː/ in some speakers. Overall, the final /siːn/ remains stable; main differences are the first two vowels and the rhotics. IPA references: US /ˈsaɪtoʊˌsiːn/, UK /ˈsaɪtəʊˌsiːn/, AU /ˈsaɪtəsiːn/.
Because of the two vowel clusters and the final syllable: /ˈsaɪtoʊˌsiːn/ has a diphthong in the first syllable, a mid‑back /oʊ/ vs. /əʊ/ variation, and a long /iː/ in the final syllable. The sequence /toʊsiːn/ can be confusing if you don’t clearly separate the syllables; many learners merge /toʊ/ and /siːn/ into /toʊsiːn/. Practice by isolating each syllable and using slow tempo, then speed up. Emphasize final length: /siːn/ rather than /sɪn/.
Note that cytosine often appears in fast scientific speech as cyt-ó-seen, with clear syllable boundaries: SAHY-toh-SEEN in some presentations or SAHY-tə-SY-ne in casual speech. Visualize it as three small beats: SAHY | TO | SEEN. Ensure the final /siːn/ is prolonged slightly in academic contexts to avoid truncation. Also, when teaching students, pair this word with the image of a DNA strand to connect the pronunciation with its meaning.
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Cytosine derives from the combined roots cyt- (from Greek kustis 'cell') and -osine, a suffix used in nucleobases from early 20th-century chemistry. The term entered scientific usage as chemists formalized the components of nucleic acids in the 1950s, aligning with the discovery of the DNA double helix. The root cyt- refers to living cells and cellular components, reflecting cytosine’s role as a fundamental building block of genetic material. The -osine suffix connects it to other nucleobases like thymine, adenine, and guanine, though cytosine is a pyrimidine base distinguished by its single-ring structure. Early work by scientists like Miescher and later Watson and Crick contributed to recognizing cytosine as a sovereign unit in nucleic acids, with first full usage in scholarly papers describing nucleotide components and base pairing rules. By mid-20th century, cytosine’s identity as a cytosine nucleotide and its methylated derivative 5-methylcytosine became central to genetics and epigenetics, illustrating its evolving significance from a simple base to a key regulatory molecule in gene expression. The term has since become ubiquitous in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry, underpinning fundamental concepts of heredity and regulation.
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Words that rhyme with "Cytosine"
-ise sounds
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