dna
/ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/
Frequency: 4.49 in modern English
Meaning
noun
Initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid (“a nucleic acid found in all living things (and some non-living things such as certain viruses) which consists of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix; encoded in its structure are genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction”).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The fundamental nature or values of a person, or an organization or other thing, especially when considered as innate or immutable.
Countable; Uncountable
name
Defense Nuclear Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Defense which existed from 1971 to 1996 and has since been reorganized as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
American usage
phrase
Did not answer.
phrase
Did not attend.
Example Sentences
- "Among the various fractions isolated was one presumed to contain only desoxyribosenucleic acid (DNA). Because of certain speculations on the role of nucleic acids in protein synthesis it was necessary to measure and compare the rate of phosphate entry into DNA with that in other fractions of yeast phosphate."
- "We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest."
- "As you know, heredity resides in our genes. Our genes are, in turn, composed of complex molecules called DNA. About 10 years ago we learned how to synthesize DNA in the test tube with the use of a certain cellular catalyst or enzyme. […] During the past year, we have been able to synthesize DNA which has the full genetic activity of natural DNA."
- "Recent breakthroughs in DNA technology are expected to provide investigators with powerful forensic tools to help solve these difficult kinds of cases."
- "Because of her significant testing, Avery had had DNA sequencing of her “exome,” the part of her genome that makes proteins in the body, said Dr. Michael Wangler, a researcher at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital."
- "[I]n bacteria, recombination between the DNAs of different organisms usually occurs between a piece of DNA from one strain of a bacterium, called the donor strain, and the entire chromosome of another strain, called the recipient strain."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/
- British English: /ˌdiːɛnˈeɪ/
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Informal
- Transitive verb
- American usage