Main Entry:

double helix

Function:

noun

Date:

1954

: a helix or spiral consisting of two strands in the surface of a cylinder that coil around its axis ; especially : the structural arrangement of DNA in space that consists of paired polynucleotide strands stabilized by cross-links between purine and pyrimidine bases — compare alpha-helix, watson-crick model

— dou·ble–he·li·cal \-ˈhe-li-kəl, -ˈhē-\ adjective