hemocyanin

American  

[hee-muh-sahy-uh-nin, hem-uh-] / ˌhi məˈsaɪ ə nɪn, ˌhɛm ə- /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a blue, copper-containing respiratory pigment in the plasma of many invertebrates.

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Etymology

Origin of hemocyanin

First recorded in 1835–45; hemo- + cyan- ¹ + -in ²

Example Sentences

Their blood gets that blue-green tint from hemocyanin, which they use instead of hemoglobin to carry oxygen.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2021

Insects, crustaceans and other arthropods use hemocyanin, a bluish copper-based pigment.

From Scientific American • May 6, 2019

In squids, lobsters and the other blue-blooded animals, for example, hemocyanin is dissolved directly in their plasma.

From Scientific American • May 6, 2019

He and his co-workers at the University of Upsala bombarded the hemocyanin particles with quanta of energy in the form of ultraviolet light.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hemoglobin, such as in our blood, and hemocyanin, like that in the blue blood of the Venerians, are practically unique in that respect.

From The Black Star Passes by Campbell, John Wood