nucleic acid

noun

Meaning

A large, complex organic molecule, such as DNA or RNA, that carries genetic information in all living organisms.

Examples

The discovery of the double helix structure revealed how nucleic acid molecules store hereditary data.
Scientists analyze the sequence of a nucleic acid to determine evolutionary relationships between species.

Synonyms: DNA, RNA, genetic material, polynucleotide

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nucleic acid

noun

Pronunciation: nuːˈkleɪɪk ˈæsɪd

Definition

A large, complex organic molecule, such as DNA or RNA, that carries genetic information in all living organisms.

Examples

The discovery of the double helix structure revealed how nucleic acid molecules store hereditary data.
Scientists analyze the sequence of a nucleic acid to determine evolutionary relationships between species.
Viruses are often composed of a protein shell surrounding a core of nucleic acid.

Synonyms of nucleic acid

Words with a similar meaning to nucleic acid:

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