ScienceAugust 18, 2026
polymerase
puh-LIM-uh-rays
Definition
An enzyme responsible for synthesizing long chains of polymers or nucleic acids, such as RNA or DNA, from smaller building blocks.
Etymology
Derived from 'polymer' (from Greek polumerēs, 'having many parts') and the suffix '-ase', which is standard for naming enzymes.
In the news
In this article, RNA polymerase is identified as the specific enzyme that moves along DNA to decode genetic information, effectively powering the rotation that the researchers aim to visualize.
Miniature Rotor Made With DNA “Origami” Lets Researchers Watch Life's Essential Spin
Read the full article ↗IFLScience