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

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

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

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