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
Its 90,000-base-pair genome enables the synthetic cell to produce proteins, replicate its DNA, feed, grow and divide into daughter cells.
—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Time and again, the DNA of the Declaration of Independence has prevailed.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
That willingness to act without guarantees became part of the nation’s DNA.
—
Keith Krach,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Forensic analysis was able to match Childers' DNA to a profile in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for DNA
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Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Time and again, the DNA of the Declaration of Independence has prevailed.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
That willingness to act without guarantees became part of the nation’s DNA.
—
Keith Krach,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Forensic analysis was able to match Childers' DNA to a profile in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
3 July 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 5 Jul. 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
