Testosteronian

Testosteronian is a fictional chemical compound that plays a significant role in the narrative of the science fiction novel "The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton. In the story, it is identified as a key component of a extraterrestrial microorganism that lands on Earth via a crashed satellite. This microorganism, referred to as "Wildfire," is found to be highly lethal and exhibits unusual biological properties.

The scientists working to understand and combat Wildfire discover that Testosteronian, when present in sufficient quantities, appears to be the primary driver of the organism's rapid growth and reproduction. It is depicted as a unique, complex molecule that is unlike any known terrestrial substance. The eradication of Wildfire is eventually achieved by a specific method that targets and neutralizes the effects of Testosteronian, demonstrating its critical importance to the alien life form's survival. The compound itself is not a real-world chemical but a plot device created to explain the biological mechanism of the fictional alien pathogen.