nucleic acid

[ noo-klee-ik, -kley-, nyoo- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of long, linear macromolecules, either DNA or various types of RNA, that carry genetic information directing all cellular functions: composed of linked nucleotides.

nucleic acid

/ -ˈkleɪ-; njuːˈkliːɪk /

noun

1. biochem any of a group of complex compounds with a high molecular weight that are vital constituents of all living cells See also RNA DNA

nucleic acid

/ no̅o̅-klē′ĭk /

1. Any of a group of very large polymeric nucleotides that constitute the genetic material of living cells and viruses and that code for the amino acid sequences of proteins. Nucleic acids consist of either one or two long chains of repeating units called nucleotides, which consist of a nitrogen base (a purine or pyrimidine) attached to a sugar phosphate. The two main nucleic acids are DNA and RNA. In DNA, the nitrogen bases along the length of one chain are linked to complementary bases in the other chain by hydrogen bonds, and both chains coil around each other in a double helix. Particular sequences of nucleotides constitute genes and encode instructions for sequences of amino acids when proteins are synthesized. In RNA, which is usually single-stranded, complementary bases within the single strand may pair with each other, forming structures other than a double helix.
2. See more at DNA

Word History and Origins

Origin of nucleic acid¹

1890–95; nucle(us) + -ic; compare German Nucleïnsäure (1889)

Example Sentences

Cells use RNA, a single-stranded string of nucleic acids that translates blueprints encoded in DNA into the production of proteins.

From New York Times

"Our approach has the potential to dramatically change the way nucleic acid amplification is performed, providing instead a portable, reliable and cost-effective solution for applications, ranging from point-of-care diagnostics to field-based research." said Draz.

From Science Daily

The remarkably precise method allows researchers to peer into nanometer-sized membrane sacs, called extracellular vesicles or EVs, that can carry different types of cargos, like proteins, nucleic acids and metabolites, in the bloodstream.

From Science Daily

The push from scientists is growing for a massive increase in research on RNA, a nucleic acid long in the shadow to the DNA that makes up genomes.

From Science Magazine

The researchers had the broad idea of using a bioconjugation approach that would allow the proteins to be loaded into lipid nanoparticles, which form around nucleic acids.

From Science Daily