Illustration of DNA
- A molecular model
- 1 hydrogen
- 2 oxygen
- 3 carbon in the helical phosphate ester chains
- 4 carbon and nitrogen in the cross-linked purine and pyrimidine bases
- 5 phosphorus
- B double helix
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular basis of heredity, are constructed of a double helix held together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases (see base entry 1 sense 6b) which project inward from two chains containing alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate, and that in eukaryotes are localized chiefly in cell nuclei compare recombinant dna
Examples of DNA in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An airborne alien virus, designed to rewrite DNA, had been released over New York City in 1946 and spread globally, infecting tens of thousands worldwide.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2025
The resilience Lucy Jones talks about and eloquently writes about — the DNA of community — was on display Jan. 8 at the Pasadena Convention Center, where evacuees summoned the strength to deal with loss and uncertainty while service organizations stepped up and volunteers pitched in.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Prime editing offers more accurate and flexible DNA modifications compared to traditional CRISPR-Cas9 systems, allowing for insertions, deletions, and base substitutions without inducing double-strand breaks.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
In the lab, researchers can extract, splice and analyze genomic sequences from blood, saliva, tissues, DNA and other biospecimens that are collected from South Florida, Africa, South America, Asia and other parts of the world.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
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Jennifer Ouellette, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2025
The resilience Lucy Jones talks about and eloquently writes about — the DNA of community — was on display Jan. 8 at the Pasadena Convention Center, where evacuees summoned the strength to deal with loss and uncertainty while service organizations stepped up and volunteers pitched in.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Prime editing offers more accurate and flexible DNA modifications compared to traditional CRISPR-Cas9 systems, allowing for insertions, deletions, and base substitutions without inducing double-strand breaks.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
In the lab, researchers can extract, splice and analyze genomic sequences from blood, saliva, tissues, DNA and other biospecimens that are collected from South Florida, Africa, South America, Asia and other parts of the world.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for DNA
Dictionary Entries Near DNA
Cite this Entry
“DNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are located especially in cell nuclei, are usually the chemical basis of heredity, and are composed of two nucleotide chains held together by hydrogen bonds in a pattern resembling a flexible twisted ladder compare rna
Medical Definition
DNA
noun
: any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular basis of heredity, are constructed of a double helix held together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases which project inward from two chains containing alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate, and that in eukaryotes are localized chiefly in cell nuclei
called also deoxyribonucleic acid
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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