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
The detective contacted the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab and submitted a number of items from the Vesey murder for DNA testing, according to court documents.
—
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Those samples were compared to DNA donated by those known to be living descendents of the men aboard the expedition, the University of Waterloo said in a news release.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Taking each brand partner’s DNA into account, Hansae creates mood boards and presents trends in a way that fits their image.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
The team did not try to recover DNA from the fossils after failing to extract DNA from animal fossils of the same age from the same sites.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
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Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Those samples were compared to DNA donated by those known to be living descendents of the men aboard the expedition, the University of Waterloo said in a news release.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Taking each brand partner’s DNA into account, Hansae creates mood boards and presents trends in a way that fits their image.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
The team did not try to recover DNA from the fossils after failing to extract DNA from animal fossils of the same age from the same sites.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 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 15 May. 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
