Nucleic acid sequence
Nucleic Acid Sequence
A Nucleic Acid Sequence is a succession of letters that indicate the order of nucleotides forming alleles within a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecule. Pronunciation: /ˈnjuːklɪɪk ˈæsɪd ˈsiːkwəns/
Etymology
The term "Nucleic Acid Sequence" is derived from the Latin "nucleus" meaning kernel or seed, and "acidus" meaning sour or sharp. The term "sequence" comes from the Latin "sequentia" meaning following.
Definition
A Nucleic Acid Sequence is a precise order of nucleotides within a DNA or RNA molecule. It is through these sequences that genetic information is stored, transferred, and expressed. The sequence is read from the 5' end to the 3' end, with the nucleotides within the sequence being abbreviated with the letters A, C, G, and T in DNA, or A, C, G, and U in RNA.
Related Terms
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids.
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
- RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins.
- Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
- Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleic acid sequence
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleic acid sequence
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