A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information
in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA.
DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted
into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between
the complementary bases adenine
and thymine or cytosine and
guanine. The sequence of nucleotides
determines individual hereditary characteristics.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version
licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction
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