Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

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.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The goal is to make companies that sell the synthetic nucleic acids screen customer orders to block any combinations that could be dangerous, and make sure the customers who place the orders are legitimate.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 4, 2026

Opponents said it is subjective which combinations of nucleic acids are considered dangerous and warn that the costs of complying could hurt startups.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 4, 2026

Some migrasomes contained viral nucleic acids inside while displaying the VSV surface protein VSV-G on their outer membrane.

From Science Daily Jan. 5, 2026

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

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training