Used in research as a nucleoside analog to study DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Acts as a metabolic inhibitor by interfering with thymidylate synthase, which makes it valuable in cancer research, particularly for understanding mechanisms of chemotherapeutic agents. Commonly employed in cell culture experiments to synchronize cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle. Also utilized in molecular biology to investigate DNA repair pathways and the effects of nucleotide pool imbalances on genomic stability.