MELANIN Definition & Meaning

melanin

[ mel-uh-nin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of a class of insoluble pigments, found in all forms of animal life, that account for the dark color of skin, hair, fur, scales, feathers, etc.

melanin

/ ˈ��ɛ��ə��ɪ�� /

noun

any of a group of black or dark brown pigments present in the hair, skin, and eyes of man and animals: produced in excess in certain skin diseases and in melanomas

melanin

/ ��ĕ��′ə-��ĭ�� /

Any of various pigments that are responsible for the dark color of the skin, hair, scales, feathers, and eyes of animals and are also found in plants, fungi, and bacteria. Melanins are polymers, often bound to proteins, and in the animal kingdom are built from compounds produced by the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine.

melanin

A dark brown coloring found in the body, especially in the skin and hair. Produced by special skin cells that are sensitive to sunlight, melanin protects the body by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun .

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Notes

The amount of melanin present in the skin determines the color of a person's complexion: people with a large amount have dark skin, whereas those with very little have fair skin. Melanin is also responsible for tanning.

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Other �y��vlogs From

��a·�Ծ��·�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of melanin¹

First recorded in 1835–45; melan- + -in ²

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Example Sentences

Despite the often well-understood ecological drivers that favour the presence or absence of melanin in the wings of these lepidopterans, the genetic and developmental basis of changes in colouration has remained unclear.

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They began testing to see if it could benefit melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin, the dark pigment in question.

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This gene causes the insect to produce the brownish pigment melanin.

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I wanted to be the melanin expert, and I do consider myself that.

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The research team then tested the innovative treatment in mice and in human-derived melanoma cells in the lab and found that the tyrosine nanomicelles reactivated dormant metabolic pathways, triggered melanin synthesis, and inhibited tumour growth.

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