Biological pigment

Biological pigment

Biological pigment (pronunciation: /baɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈpɪɡmənt/) is a substance produced by living organisms that has a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments.

Etymology

The term "biological pigment" is derived from the Latin biologicus, meaning "pertaining to life", and the Greek pigmentum, meaning "paint".

Types of Biological Pigments

Biological pigments are divided into three main types:

• Chlorophyll: This is the most common type of biological pigment and is responsible for the green color of most plants.

• Carotenoids: These are organic pigments that are found in the chloroplasts of plants and in some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some types of fungus and some bacteria.

• Melanin: This is a type of pigment that is found in animals and is responsible for the color of skin, hair, and eyes.

Related Terms

• Photosynthesis: This is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll pigments.

• Hemoglobin: This is a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. Its molecule comprises four subunits, each containing an iron atom bound to a heme group.

• Anthocyanin: This is a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects, found in plants. Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors of many fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Biological pigment
• Wikipedia's article - Biological pigment

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