deoxyribonucleic acid

English edit

 
Structural diagram of a DNA molecule.

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  • (file)

Noun edit

deoxyribonucleic acid (uncountable)

  1. (biochemistry, genetics) 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.
    Synonyms: deoxyribose nucleic acid, desoxyribose nucleic acid, double helix, (abbreviation) DNA
    Meronym: nucleotide

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