deoxyribonucleic acid
nounUK /di.ɒk.sɪˌɹaɪ.bəʊ.njuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæ.sɪd/ · US /di.ɔk.siˌɹaɪ.boʊ.nuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæ.sɪd/
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Medicine, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A nucleic acid found in all living things (and some non-living things such as certain viruses) which consists of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix; encoded in its structure are genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction.
- Meronym: nucleotide
- Related terms
- nucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, peptide nucleic acid, threose nucleic acid, glycol nucleic acid, unlocked nucleic acid, locked nucleic acid, bridged nucleic acid