DNA
dee-ehn-AY
DNA (noun) means the molecule inside almost every living cell that carries genetic instructions, arranged as a double helix of paired bases. Example: “DNA from both parents combines to determine a child's traits.”
noun
1
The molecule inside almost every living cell that carries genetic instructions, arranged as a double helix of paired bases.
"DNA from both parents combines to determine a child's traits."
"Investigators matched the DNA found at the scene to a suspect."
verb
1
To test a biological sample for its genetic identity.
"Police DNA'd the cigarette butt left behind."
How to use DNA
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe genetic code stored in cells that makes each living thing unique.
Common mistake
"In someone's DNA" is often used figuratively to mean a core, defining trait, not literal genetics — e.g. "Customer service is in the company's DNA."
Common pairings
DNA test
DNA sample
match someone's DNA
in your DNA (figuratively)
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- DNAs
- Past tense
- DNAed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ from both parents combines to determine a child's traits.
Etymology
Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical name of the molecule.
Synonyms
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deoxyribonucleic acid
genetic material
genetic code
genes
genome
genetic blueprint
desoxyribonucleic acid
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “DNA” mean?
The word “DNA” means the molecule inside almost every living cell that carries genetic instructions, arranged as a double helix of paired bases. In plain terms, the genetic code stored in cells that makes each living thing unique.
How do you pronounce “DNA”?
“DNA” is pronounced dee-ehn-AY (/ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “DNA” in a sentence?
Here is “DNA” used in a sentence: “DNA from both parents combines to determine a child's traits.”
What part of speech is “DNA”?
Depending on how it is used, “DNA” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “DNA” a common word?
“DNA” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “DNA” have?
“DNA” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the molecule inside almost every living cell that carries genetic instructions, arranged as a double helix of paired bases.
What does DNA stand for?
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is the long molecule, shaped like a twisted ladder or double helix, that stores the genetic code in nearly every living cell. The name describes its chemistry: a sugar called deoxyribose, phosphate groups, and the nucleic-acid bases that spell out the instructions.
What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
Both are nucleic acids that carry genetic information, but DNA is the stable, double-stranded master copy stored in the cell, while RNA is usually single-stranded and acts as a working messenger that carries instructions from DNA to build proteins. DNA uses the base thymine; RNA uses uracil instead.
What is the difference between DNA and genes?
DNA is the whole molecule; a gene is a specific segment of it. Each gene is a stretch of DNA that spells out instructions for one particular trait or protein. Think of DNA as an entire instruction manual and genes as the individual instructions written inside it.
Why is DNA important?
DNA carries the instructions that build and run every living thing, and it passes those instructions from parents to offspring, which is why we inherit traits. It also makes each individual genetically unique, so it is used in medicine, ancestry testing, and forensic identification.
What is DNA made of?
DNA is built from four chemical bases — adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine — attached to a backbone of sugar and phosphate. The bases pair up, A with T and G with C, to form the rungs of the double helix, and their order spells out the genetic code.
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