DNA - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT DNA /ˈdi ˈɛn ˌeɪ/ /diɛnˈeɪ/ IPA guide

Your DNA is what makes you uniquely you. It's that double helix that your genes are made of. Your DNA accounts for why you resemble your parents and it distinguishes you from your pet frog and from everybody else.

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, sometimes called "the molecule of life," as almost all organisms have their genetic material codified as DNA. Since each person’s DNA is unique, "DNA typing" is a valuable tool in connecting suspects to crime scenes. You can also use the word less scientifically, as in “it’s just not in my DNA to sit through six hours of meetings.”

Definitions of DNA

noun (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information “DNA is the king of molecules” synonyms: deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid see moresee less types: show 11 types... hide 11 types... operon a segment of DNA containing adjacent genes including structural genes and an operator gene and a regulatory gene cDNA, complementary DNA single-stranded DNA that is complementary to messenger RNA or DNA that has been synthesized from messenger RNA by reverse transcriptase episome DNA that is not incorporated into the genome but is replicated together with the genome (especially in bacterial cells) coding DNA, exon sequence of a gene's DNA that transcribes into protein structures intron, noncoding DNA sequence of a eukaryotic gene's DNA that is not translated into a protein junk DNA stretches of DNA that do not code for genes recombinant DNA, recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid genetically engineered DNA made by recombining fragments of DNA from different organisms sticky end an end of DNA in which one strand of the double helix extends a few units beyond the other jumping gene, transposon a segment of DNA that can become integrated at many different sites along a chromosome (especially a segment of bacterial DNA that can be translocated as a whole) provirus cDNA copy of the RNA genome of a retrovirus; the genetic material of a virus as incorporated into and able to replicate with the genome of a host cell dscDNA double-stranded cDNA type of: polymer a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers

Pronunciation US /ˈdi ˈɛn ˌeɪ/ UK /diɛnˈeɪ/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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