January 29, 2014

Naming Nootkatone

I’ve always enjoyed the citrusy, dark, mellow-but-tangy notes emanating from a freshly-cut grapefruit. Some of that flavor comes from(+)-nootkatone, a terpene fragrance that, as a recentNature News article points out, will be one of the first fine chemicalsproduced using the relatively new technique of synthetic biology.

By See Arr Oh

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

I've always enjoyed the citrusy, dark, mellow-but-tangy notes emanating from a freshly-cut grapefruit. Some of that flavor comes from (+)-nootkatone, a terpene fragrance that, as a recent Nature Newsarticle points out, will be one of the first fine chemicals produced using the relatively new technique of synthetic biology. Economic and cultural issues still swirl around this development, but I have a much simpler question:

How do you say nootkatone?

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Hear me out - I've searched video clips, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) WebBook, collections of "funny-named" molecules, the Merck Index, and even consulted the IPA charts. The etymology's confusing - to me, at first blush it appears to be a Greek root, like nootropics (neuroenhancers), which one pronounces "NOH-uh-tropics."

But "Nootka" isn't derived from Greek. For this molecule, we rely upon an Anglicization of a native tongue: in this case, the Nuu-chah-nulth people of modern-day coastal Canada. The phoneme crops up again in Nootka Sound and Nootka Island, both in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the scientific name for the yellow cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, which this UConn horticultural site pronounces "noo-kah-TEN-sis."

A 2011 NPR story on alternative mosquito repellents has reporter Richard Knox proclaiming the benefits of "NOOT-kah-tone," while a brief survey of YouTube vacation videos and fishing trips to "NUT-ka" Island confuse the issue further. For such a useful and widely-produced molecule, there must be a definitive way to pronounce the name.

noo-kah-TONE? (like the plant)

NOOT-kah-tone? (NPR)

NOH-uh-kah-tone? (like Greek)

NUT-kah-tone? (like YouTube)

Help me out: Who knows the right way to name nootkatone?

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American