bacteriochlorophyll

noun

Meaning

A photosynthetic pigment found in various bacteria that absorbs light at longer wavelengths than the chlorophyll found in plants.

Examples

  • The purple sulfur bacteria utilize bacteriochlorophyll to thrive in deep, light-starved aquatic zones.
  • Researchers analyzed the unique absorption spectrum of bacteriochlorophyll to understand how these organisms survive in extreme conditions.

Synonyms: pigment, photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll, light-harvesting complex