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
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Those were never tested for DNA, a procedure not commonly used in the late 1980s.
—
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
Because everything alive arose from LUCA, plants, animals and microbes all share certain basic traits, such as storing genetic information in DNA and RNA.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2026
Clint Eastwood and Hackman united decades later for 1992's Unforgiven, and Hackman won another Oscar for playing Little Bill, the black-hat sheriff infused with Popeye DNA.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Turning genomic data into potential cancer therapy The process compared healthy DNA from Rosie’s blood with DNA from her tumour to identify the mutations driving the cancer.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
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Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
Because everything alive arose from LUCA, plants, animals and microbes all share certain basic traits, such as storing genetic information in DNA and RNA.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2026
Clint Eastwood and Hackman united decades later for 1992's Unforgiven, and Hackman won another Oscar for playing Little Bill, the black-hat sheriff infused with Popeye DNA.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Turning genomic data into potential cancer therapy The process compared healthy DNA from Rosie’s blood with DNA from her tumour to identify the mutations driving the cancer.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for DNA
Cite this Entry
“DNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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
