Phycocyanin
/ˌfaɪkoʊˈsaɪənɪn/noun
A blue, water-soluble photosynthetic pigment found chiefly in cyanobacteria and some algae.
Did you know?The name preserves an older classification: cyanobacteria were historically called blue-green algae, even though modern biology places them among bacteria rather than true algae.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φῦκος (phûkos)
“Seaweed or marine alga; the source of the scientific combining form phyco-.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κύανος (kýanos)
“Dark blue substance or blue mineral, especially lapis lazuli; the source of cyano-.”
19th Century
Scientific English
phyco-
“A combining form meaning algae or seaweed, created from Greek phûkos.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin/English
cyan- / cyano-
“A combining form referring to blue, derived from Greek kýanos.”
20th Century
Scientific English
phycocyanin
“The name for a blue phycobilin pigment occurring in cyanobacteria and certain algae.”