Albumen
Albumen
Albumen (pronounced: al-byoo-muh n) is a term used in biology and medicine to refer to the white of an egg, or more specifically, the water-soluble protein found in it.
Etymology
The term "albumen" is derived from the Latin word albus, which means "white". This is in reference to the color of the substance in its most commonly recognized form, egg white.
Definition
Albumen is a class of simple, water-soluble proteins that can be coagulated by heat and are found in egg white, blood serum, milk, and many other animal and plant tissues. In the context of eggs, the albumen provides the protein necessary for the embryo to grow.
Related Terms
- Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order; the order is determined by the base sequence of nucleotides in the gene that codes for the protein.
- Egg: The round or oval body laid by the female of any number of different species, consisting of an ovum surrounded by layers of membranes and an outer casing, which provides nourishment and protection for the developing embryo.
- Embryo: An organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation, from fertilization to the beginning of the third month of pregnancy in humans.
- Coagulation: The process by which a liquid, typically part of a fluid substance such as blood or milk, changes state to a solid or semi-solid.
- Serum: The clear, yellowish fluid obtained upon separating whole blood into its solid and liquid components after it has been allowed to clot.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Albumen
- Wikipedia's article - Albumen
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