bilin
noun/ˈbaɪlɪn/
Etymology From international scientific vocabulary, and clearly reflecting New Latin, from Latin bīlis (“bile”). By surface analysis, bili- + -in, although according to American Heritage Dictionary, bilin was back-formed from phycobilin (as opposed to phycobilin being derived from bilin as surface analysis suggests).
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Any of various biological pigments formed in many organisms as a metabolic product of certain porphyrins.
- Synonyms
- bilane
- Derived terms
- phycocyanobilin, phycoerythrobilin
- Hyponyms
- bile pigment, bilichrome, phycobilin