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
Toyota didn’t sell out the 4Runner’s legacy; instead, the company has reinforced its off-road DNA while bringing powertrain, usability, and capability into the 21st century.
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New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
In addition to the confession and DNA match, Haase's handprint also matched a handprint found on the door of Togstad's house.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
That was really interesting to us because optimism and resilience are baked into the Ford DNA.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
In recent years, the collaborating teams analyzed how the DNA arrays change shape and how these transformations could be controlled.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 19 Nov. 2025
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New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
In addition to the confession and DNA match, Haase's handprint also matched a handprint found on the door of Togstad's house.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
That was really interesting to us because optimism and resilience are baked into the Ford DNA.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
In recent years, the collaborating teams analyzed how the DNA arrays change shape and how these transformations could be controlled.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for DNA
Cite this Entry
“DNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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