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
Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith And Fables, the superstar’s latest album, reaches just one Billboard chart this week.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
The other strand of that DNA is its manufacturing ethos.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 2 Dec. 2024
Rudy Guede, the only person definitively convicted in Kercher's murder and whose fingerprints and DNA were found at the scene, was released in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year sentence.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
Filming is due to begin in the first week of May next year with its usual key crew, ensuring the show will retain its French DNA, Variety has learned.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for DNA 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
The other strand of that DNA is its manufacturing ethos.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 2 Dec. 2024
Rudy Guede, the only person definitively convicted in Kercher's murder and whose fingerprints and DNA were found at the scene, was released in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year sentence.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
Filming is due to begin in the first week of May next year with its usual key crew, ensuring the show will retain its French DNA, Variety has learned.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
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 15 Dec. 2024.
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
see recombinant dnaLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share