Biochemistry
Thymine
One of the four nucleotide bases in DNA, abbreviated as 'T'. Thymine pairs with adenine through two hydrogen bonds. In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil.
Biological Context
Thymine's methyl group distinguishes it from uracil and provides chemical stability. UV radiation causes adjacent thymines to bond together (thymine dimers), damaging DNA. This is why UV causes skin cancer and why DNA repair of thymine dimers is crucial.
Business Application
Thymine dimers from UV damage represent how external shocks can 'cross-link' elements that should remain separate, creating dysfunction. Organizations need repair mechanisms for such damage—ways to identify and correct inappropriate connections created by stress or crisis.