deoxyribonucleic acid
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English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/DNA-structure-and-bases.png/220px-DNA-structure-and-bases.png)
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /di.ɒk.sɪˌɹaɪ.bəʊ.njuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæ.sɪd/
- (General American) IPA(key): /di.ɔk.siˌɹaɪ.boʊ.nuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæ.sɪd/
Audio (Canada): (file)
Noun
deoxyribonucleic acid (uncountable)
- (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
Alternative forms
Related terms
- nucleic acid
- ribonucleic acid (RNA)
- peptide nucleic acid (PNA)
- threose nucleic acid (TNA)
- glycol nucleic acid (GNA)
Translations
deoxyribonucleic acid