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Glite Dictionary
🧪 A lab protein ☠️ A toxic protein
phytohaemagglutinin

phytohaemagglutinin

9.9
A toxic protein in raw or undercooked beans that causes stomach pain and vomiting
  • noun
  • /ˌfaɪtoʊˌhiːməˈɡlʌtɪnɪn/
  • UK
: fitohemaglutinina
  • Consuming raw red kidney beans can expose you to phytohaemagglutinin, which may cause nausea and vomiting.

Examples

  • Consuming raw red kidney beans can lead to phytohaemagglutinin poisoning.

  • Properly cooking beans destroys phytohaemagglutinin and makes them safe to eat.

  • Scientists study phytohaemagglutinin to understand its effects on the digestive system.

  • The phytohaemagglutinin levels in undercooked beans are dangerous.

  • Consuming raw red kidney beans can expose you to phytohaemagglutinin, which may cause nausea and vomiting.

  • Properly cooking beans destroys phytohaemagglutinin and makes them safe to eat.

  • The phytohaemagglutinin in uncooked beans can lead to severe gastrointestinal illness.

Surface Forms

phytohaemagglutinin singular
phytohaemagglutinins plural
phytohemagglutinins plural
phytohemagglutinin singular

Morphology

phytohaemagglutinin = haemagglutinin (opaque) = phyto + haemagglutinin

The formation is technical and relies on specialized combining forms, so learners are unlikely to infer the toxic-bean sense from the parts.

Etymology

Phytohaemagglutinin comes from phyto- 'plant', haemo- 'blood', and agglutinin 'to stick together', like 'glue'. So, the name warns that this is a plant protein found in some raw beans that can make cells clump and cause stomach illness if the beans are not cooked properly.