| 释义 |
D.N.A., DNA
see deoxyribonucleic acid.
Also (rare) D.N.A. [Abbrev.]
1. = deoxyribonucleic acid n. Cf. RNA n.
1944Jrnl. Biol. Chem. CLVI. 691 The key rôle of the desoxyribose type of these substances in the reproduction of inheritable characteristics has been emphasized by the identification of desoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) as a major component of chromosomal nucleoprotein. 1951Lancet 16 June 1287/1 In normal animal and plant cells deoxyribonucleic acid (D.N.A.) is located entirely within the nucleus. 1955New Biol. XIX. 9 DNA molecules are chains which can be broken down into nucleotides. Each nucleotide molecule can be broken down by hydrolysis into a molecule of phosphoric acid, one of desoxyribose (a five carbon sugar) and one of a purine (adenine or guanine) or of a pyrimidine (thymine, cytosine or 5-methyl cytosine, but in some phages thymine or 5-hydroxy-methyl-cytosine). 1955Sci. Amer. Oct. 70/3 The chromosomes are made largely of DNA (desoxyribonucleic acid). DNA can exist in a great multitude of forms, all built of the same building blocks but with the units arranged in different sequences. The hereditary information carried by a DNA molecule is contained in the order of arrangement of these units. 1962A. Huxley Let. 26 Dec. (1969) 945 He talked such nonsense..about true intelligence residing only in the DNA molecule. 1970Nature 5 Sept. 998/2 Demolition of the hallowed idea of the molecular biologist that RNA cannot synthesize DNA has prompted a reinvestigation of other ideas.
2. Special Comb.a. DNA fingerprinting = genetic fingerprinting s.v. *genetic a. 1 g.
1980Jrnl. Pediatrics XCVII. 92/2 The technique used for viral *DNA fingerprinting has been described previously. 1989NERC News VIII. 13 By applying DNA fingerprinting to whales it is possible to unravel some of the mysteries of their behaviour.
b. In names of enzymes acting on or catalysing the production of DNA, as DNA ligase, DNA methylase, DNA polymerase, etc.
1962Federation Proc. XXI. 456/2 DNA polymerase activity was measured in crude cell extracts according to Bollum. 1963Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. L. 906 The most serious difficulty is introduced by the DNA transcriptase. 1968A. White et al. Princ. Biochem. (ed. 4) xxviii. 654 The ends of the linear form were joined by using an enzyme called DNA ligase or joining enzyme to produce the double-stranded circular form. 1971Jrnl. Molecular Biol. LVII. 486 As a necessary first step in the methylation process, DNA methylase must bind in some way to DNA. 1979D. R. Hofstadter Gödel, Escher, Bach (1980) xvi. 530 The DNA polymerase is basically a copy-and-move enzyme. 1987E. E. Conn et al. Outl. Biochem. (ed. 5) xix. 593 The DNA methylase in the bacterial restriction-modification system..plays an important role in protecting the host DNA from destruction from restriction endonucleases.
Add:[2.] [a.] DNA fingerprint, a genetic fingerprint involving the characterization of DNA; spec. one obtained by DNA fingerprinting.
1969Jrnl. Molecular Biol. XLIII. 611 In the *DNA fingerprints, however, every spot consisted of a mixture of several isomers. 1978Chromosoma LXVI. 9 That they were related but not identical was deduced from DNA ‘fingerprint’ studies. 1988Mouse News Let. Nov. 124 Inbred strains of mice have less complex DNA fingerprints than wild mice. 1995Daily Express 17 Mar. 17/3 Each suspect's sample will be checked against ‘DNA fingerprints’ left behind during every outstanding crime in the country.
DNA fingerprinting, the analysis of small samples of DNA to establish the pattern of hypervariable repeated sequences of base pairs in the DNA, which are distinctive for each individual.
1985Sci. News 21–8 Dec. 39, It is envisaged that DNA fingerprinting will revolutionize forensic biology particularly with regard to the identification of rape suspects. 1989E. Lawrence Guide Mod. Biol. iv. 115 The general technique of restriction analysis has been exploited to develop a method of DNA fingerprinting by which any individual can be unambiguously indentified from his or her DNA. 1992N.Y. Times 18 Feb. c10/5 The researchers hope soon to begin doing DNA fingerprinting on the dolphins to determine family trees.
DNA profile, a distinctive pattern obtained by analysis of the DNA of an individual or organism; spec. = *DNA fingerprint above.
1971Arch. für Mikrobiol. LXXVIII. 252 (title) *DNA profile of the spore of Blastocladiella emersonii. 1976Acta Path. et Microbiol. Scand. A. LXXXIV. 461/2 In all cases of malignant tumour, the DNA profile was abnormal. 1988Daily Tel. 31 Dec. 4/8 Mr Gale says that it would not be difficult for everyone's DNA profile to be put on their medical record. 1992Police Rev. 17 Jan. 100/2 Mr Williams was eliminated from the inquiry, but his DNA profile was stored on a database.
DNA profiling = *DNA fingerprinting above.
1988Evidence: Blood Group Tests, DNA Tests & related matters (Scottish Law Commission Discussion paper no. 80) iii. 32 The court should have power to order samples of blood or other matter to be taken from a person's body for the purpose of blood group tests, *DNA profiling or other procedures. 1990Sci. Amer. May 18/3 DNA profiling, a recent technique that in theory can identify an individual from his or her DNA with a high degree of certainty. |