Definition

1. Noun:
   • A biological macromolecule: A nucleic acid is a large, complex organic substance found in all living cells and viruses. It is composed of long chains of nucleotides, which are the fundamental structural units.
   • Genetic information carrier: Nucleic acids are essential for storing and transmitting genetic information, which directs the development, functioning, and reproduction of all known organisms.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • DNA and RNA are the two main types of nucleic acid.
  • The genetic code is stored within the sequence of nucleotides in a nucleic acid.
  • Scientists study nucleic acid to understand hereditary diseases.

Advanced Usage

• "Nucleic acid amplification": A laboratory technique used to make many copies of a specific DNA or RNA segment.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a common method for nucleic acid amplification.
• "Nucleic acid sequence": The precise order of nucleotides within a DNA or RNA molecule.
  • Determining the nucleic acid sequence is a fundamental step in genomics.

Variants and Related Words

• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): A type of nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms.
  • The structure of DNA is a double helix.
• Ribonucleic acid (RNA): A type of nucleic acid essential in various biological roles, including coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.
  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

Synonyms

• Genetic material: A general term for substances like DNA and RNA that carry genetic information.
• Polynucleotide: A biochemical term for a linear polymer of nucleotides, which is the structural form of a nucleic acid.

Related Phrases

• Nucleic acid test: A laboratory method to detect a specific nucleic acid sequence, often used for diagnosing infections.
  • A nucleic acid test confirmed the viral infection.
• Nucleic acid metabolism: The cellular processes involved in the synthesis and breakdown of nucleic acids.
  • Disorders in nucleic acid metabolism can lead to serious health conditions.

Related Idioms

(Note: As a precise scientific term, "nucleic acid" is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is almost exclusively technical and academic.)

Noun

1. (biochemistry) any of various macromolecules composed of nucleotide chains that are vital constituents of all living cells