biosynthesis

American  

[bahy-oh-sin-thuh-sis] / ˌbaɪ oʊˈsɪn θə sɪs /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. the formation of chemical compounds by a living organism.

2. the laboratory preparation of biological molecules by the use of reagents or catalysts derived from natural substances and modeled on a series of reactions occurring in a living organism.

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biosynthesis British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˈsɪnθɪsɪs, ˌbaɪəʊsɪnˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. the formation of complex compounds from simple substances by living organisms

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Other Word Forms

• biosynthetic
  adjective
• biosynthetically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of biosynthesis

First recorded in 1925–30; bio- + synthesis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

biosynthesis

This mechanism is what enables combinatorial biosynthesis and allows bacteria to naturally generate multiple drug variants.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances in the paper, "Pseudomonads associated to salt-stressed plants facilitate stress adaption of soybean through enhanced lignin biosynthesis."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 29, 2026

"Understanding stress-responsive biosynthesis in extremophilic cyanobacteria may accelerate industrial biotechnology for natural pigment and antioxidant production," says Prof. Kageyama when describing the motivation behind the work.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 13, 2026

However, laboratory biosynthesis of vanillin from plant-derived VpVAN yields only very small quantities of vanillin, and is, therefore, commercially impractical.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2024

Something you should understand: I’m not androgynous in the least. 5-alpha-reductase deficiency syndrome allows for normal biosynthesis and peripheral action of testosterone, in utero, neona- tally, and at puberty.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides