molecular biology

American  

noun

1. the branch of biology that deals with the nature of biological phenomena at the molecular level through the study of DNA and RNA, proteins, and other macromolecules involved in genetic information and cell function, characteristically making use of advanced tools and techniques of separation, manipulation, imaging, and analysis.

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molecular biology British  

noun

1. the study of biological phenomena at the molecular level

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molecular biology Scientific  

/ mə-lĕk′yə-lər /

1. The branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure, and function of macromolecules essential to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins, including their roles in cell replication and the transmission of genetic information.

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molecular biology Cultural  

1. The branch of science devoted to studies of the structure, function, and reactions of DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecules involved in the life processes.

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Etymology

Origin of molecular biology

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

molecular biology

Many are on the cutting edge of molecular biology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026

Studying molecular biology at one of the world's most prestigious universities, she was following in a family tradition.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026

"We were able to see, almost atom by atom, how statins latch onto this channel," said lead author Dr. Steven Molinarolo, a postdoctoral researcher in UBC's department of biochemistry and molecular biology.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 31, 2026

At a time when applying molecular biology to psychiatric questions was still considered bold, Dr. Nestler and colleague Dr. Ron Duman recognized that the field was ready for a new scientific direction.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 13, 2025

To anyone who has seen a molecular biology lab on the television news, the racks of refrigerating tanks, whirling DNA extractors, and gene-sequencing machines in Pena's lab would look familiar.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann