luciferase

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewk- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *léwks Proto-Italic *louks Latin lūx Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *bʰorós Proto-Italic *-foros Latin -fer Latin lūcifer Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ineclip. English -in English luciferin Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ- (dĭă-) Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi Ancient Greek ῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ) Ancient Greek δῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) English diastase English -ase English luciferase From luciferin + -ase.

1. Any one of a group of enzymes that produce bioluminescence by oxidizing luciferin.

   “Aptly enough, glowworms light up their underworld with a pair of chemicals that have a satanic etymology—luciferins and luciferases, after the Latin for “light bringer.””

   “The novel coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Moderna does not contain luciferin, an organic compound involved in bioluminescence, or the enzyme luciferase, contrary to claims on social media.”