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nucleic acid
noun
nu·cle·ic acid
nu̇-ˈklē-ik-
-ˈklā-
nyu̇-
: any of various complex organic acids (such as DNA or RNA) that are composed of nucleotide chains
Examples of nucleic acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pontefract also explains that impact craters, closed-basin environments, can contain high concentrations of chemistry due to evaporation, and origin of life scholars have shown that dehydration is an important process for forming nucleic acids from basic building blocks.
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
The significance of carbon can be understood through its multifaceted roles:
Carbon is the primary component of organic molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
—Sahit Muja, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
These vesicles, which carry bioactive cargo like lipids, growth factors, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids, are typically paired with in-office RF micro-needling and laser treatments.
—Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
Providers of synthetic nucleic acids should be required to know their customers and screen orders for suspicious DNA sequences.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
from their occurrence in cell nuclei
First Known Use
1892, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near nucleic acid
Cite this Entry
“Nucleic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nucleic%20acid. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
nucleic acid
noun
nu·cle·ic acid
n(y)u̇-ˌklā-ik-
-ˌklē-
: any of various acids (as DNA or RNA) composed of a chain of nucleotides and found especially in cell nuclei
Medical Definition
nucleic acid
noun
nu·cle·ic acid
n(y)u̇-ˌklē-ik-
-ˌklā-
: any of various acids (as an RNA or a DNA) composed of nucleotide chains
More from Merriam-Webster on nucleic acid
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nucleic acid
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