macromolecules
MAK-ruh-mol-yuh-kyulz
Definition
Large, complex molecules—typically biological in nature—composed of many repeating smaller units, such as proteins, nucleic acids, or carbohydrates.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'makros' (large) plus 'molecule,' which comes from the Latin 'molecula' (a small mass). The term was coined in the early 20th century to describe polymers and large synthetic or biological chains.
In the news
The article uses the term to clarify that the complex organics found on Enceladus were fragments of large structures rather than complete biological macromolecules, highlighting the distinction between chemical precursors and life itself.
Enceladus sprays water, phosphates, molecular hydrogen and complex organics straight out of its buried ocean — and a 2025 analysis found previously unseen organic compounds in freshly ejected ice, adding still more steps to the chemical pathways that c
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com