nucleic acids

Cultural  

1. Organic molecule (see also organic molecule) found in the nuclei of cells. DNA and RNA, the best-known nucleic acids, govern heredity and the chemical processes in the cell.

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Example Sentences

One of its main roles is to interact with the nucleic acids in the genome, helping regulate which genes are switched on and how they are translated into proteins.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2025

Mirkin developed spherical nucleic acids, which are nanoscale particles coated densely with DNA or RNA.

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2025

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 • Jun. 12, 2024

"We're taking proteins and specifically remodeling their surfaces with negative charges, so they look like nucleic acids and can similarly assemble into nanoparticles when formulated with the characteristic lipids."

From Science Daily • May 28, 2024

We both use nucleic acids for heredity; we both use proteins as enzymes to control the chemistry of our cells.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan