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methanogen

[me-than-uh-juh n, -jen]

noun

any of a diverse group of widely distributed archaebacteria that occur in anaerobic environments, as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater and marine sediments, and sewage, and are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines: an important source of natural gas.

Origin of methanogen

1975–80; methane- + -o- + -gen

Related formsmeth·an·o·gen·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

methanogen in Medicine

methanogen

[mĕ-thăn′ə-jən, -jĕn′]

n.

Any of various anaerobic methane-producing bacteria belonging to the family Methanobacteriaceae.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.