uracil

[ yoor-uh-sil ]

noun

1. Biochemistry. a pyrimidine base, C 4 H 4 N 2 O 2 , that is one of the fundamental components of RNA, in which it forms base pairs with adenine. : U

uracil

/ ˈjʊərəsɪl /

noun

1. biochem a pyrimidine present in all living cells, usually in a combined form, as in RNA. Formula: C 4 H 4 N 2 O 2

uracil

/ yr′ə-sĭl /

1. A pyrimidine base that is a component of RNA. It forms a base pair with adenine during transcription. Uracil is therefore structurally analogous to thymine in molecules of DNA. Chemical formula: C 4 H 4 N 2 O 2 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of uracil¹

1905–10; ur- ¹ + ac(etic) + -il, of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of uracil¹

C20: from uro- ¹+ acetic + -ile

Example Sentences

One loose end, Sasselov acknowledges, is that RAO has only been shown to lead to the synthesis of two of RNA’s four nucleotides, cytosine and uracil.

From Science Magazine

RNA, short for ribonucleic acid, would not be possible without uracil.

From Reuters

Rather than inducing random changes in the virus’ RNA genome, the drug is more likely to cause specific nucleic acid substitutions, with guanine switching to adenine and cytosine to uracil.

From Science Magazine

“I am uncertain what it was finally, natural uracil or only dose or both,” he says.

From Science Magazine

The only difference in code between the gene’s original and the RNA copy was the substitution of the thymine to a uracil.

From Literature