Meaning & use

DNA

abbreviation·Academic

The molecule inside cells that carries the genetic instructions used to build and maintain living organisms.

See it in a sentence

Scientists compared DNA samples to confirm the identity of the remains.

Every cell in your body contains a nearly identical copy of your DNA.

A note on using this word

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid; the abbreviation is used far more often than the full term in everyday speech.

Words with a similar meaning

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