# DNA
## English
### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˌdiːɛnˈeɪ/
* Audio (Southern England):(file)
* (General American) IPA: /ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/

### Etymology 1

The noun is an initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid. The verb is derived from the noun.

#### Noun

DNA (countable and uncountable, plural DNAs)
* (biochemistry, genetics) Initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid (“a nucleic acid found in all living things (and some non-living things such as certain viruses) which consists of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix; encoded in its structure are genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction”).
** 1948 March–April, Martin D[avid] Kamen, “Detection of Intermediates, Criteria of Purity”, in Louis H. Roddis, editor, Supplement to the United States Naval Medical Bulletin on Preparation and Measurement of Isotopes and Some of Their Medical Aspects, Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, U.S. Navy; U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 118:Among the various fractions isolated was one presumed to contain only desoxyribosenucleic acid (DNA). Because of certain speculations on the role of nucleic acids in protein synthesis it was necessary to measure and compare the rate of phosphate entry into DNA with that in other fractions of yeast phosphate.Desoxyribosenucleic acid is an archaic name of deoxyribonucleic acid.
** 1953 April 25, J[ames] D[ewey] Watson, F[rancis] H[arry] C[ompton] Crick, “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid”, in Nature: A Weekly Illustrated Journal of Science‎, volume 171, number 4356, London: Macmillan and Co.; New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2015-04-03, page 737, column 1:We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest.
** 1968 March 8, Arthur Kornberg (witness), “Statement of Dr. Arthur Kornberg, Professor and Executive Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.”, in National Commission on Health Science and Society: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Government Research of the Committee on Government Operations, United States Senate, Ninetieth Congress, Second Session on S.J. Res. 145: A Joint Resolution for the Establishment of the National Commission on Health Science and Society […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 40:As you know, heredity resides in our genes. Our genes are, in turn, composed of complex molecules called DNA. About 10 years ago we learned how to synthesize DNA in the test tube with the use of a certain cellular catalyst or enzyme. […] During the past year, we have been able to synthesize DNA which has the full genetic activity of natural DNA.
** 1988 August, John W. Hicks, “DNA Profiling: A Tool for Law Enforcement”, in Thomas J. Deakin, editor, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, volume 57, number 8, Washington, D.C.: Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice; Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1, column 3:Recent breakthroughs in DNA technology are expected to provide investigators with powerful forensic tools to help solve these difficult kinds of cases.
** 2020, Tina M. Henkin, Joseph E. Peters, “Bacterial Genetic Analysis: Fundamentals and Current Approaches”, in Snyder & Champness: Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, 5th edition, Washington, D.C.: ASM Press, →ISBN, page 157, column 1:[I]n bacteria, recombination between the DNAs of different organisms usually occurs between a piece of DNA from one strain of a bacterium, called the donor strain, and the entire chromosome of another strain, called the recipient strain.
* (informal, loosely) The part of a living thing that carries genetic information.
* (figuratively) The fundamental nature or values of a person, or an organization or other thing, especially when considered as innate and/or immutable.
** 2003, Kevin [John] Kennedy, Mary Moore, “The Predictable Challenges Faced by Dominant Companies”, in Going the Distance: Why Some Companies Dominate and Others Fail, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Financial Times Prentice Hall, →ISBN, page 14:These ingredients in a company's DNA mean that [the] company will attract and grow leaders with these qualities.
** 2012, Bill McBean, “Fact 1: If You Don’t Lead, No One Will Follow”, in The Facts of Business Life: What Every Successful Business Owner Knows that You Don’t, Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 58:The main leadership priority at Level 2 is creating the business's DNA by defining how all the moving parts of the company will work, both independently and together.
** 2022 April 13, Ryan Bort, “The Real Reason Republicans are Loading Their 2022 Campaign Ads with Guns”, in Rolling Stone‎, New York, N.Y.: Penske Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-12-09:But this new fixation on guns is […] coming from the hardcore MAGA set, and not only is it likely to stick around beyond the primaries, it's likely hardwired into the DNA of a party now driven by extremism, conspiracy, and a belief that violence is a legitimate tool to achieve desired political outcomes.
** 2022 October, Past Cases Review 2‎, National Safeguarding Steering Group of the Church of England, archived from the original on 2024-06-11, page 4:We cannot have a culture that sees safeguarding as a separate add-on. It needs to be part of our DNA, as an expression of our love for one another and our commitment to the Gospel.

##### Hyponyms

* A-DNA
* B-DNA
* bDNA
* C-DNA
* chloroplast DNA, cpDNA
* complementary DNA, cDNA
* dsDNA
* eccDNA
* ecDNA
* environmental DNA, eDNA
* familial DNA
* gDNA
* hDNA
* H-DNA
* junk DNA
* mDNA
* microDNA
* mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA
* nDNA
* non-coding DNA
* non-functional DNA
* oDNA
* organellar DNA
* rDNA
* recombinant DNA, rDNA
* siDNA
* ssDNA
* tsDNA
* xDNA
* Z-DNA

##### Derived terms

* DNAemia
* DNA ladder
* DNA polymerase
* DNA profiling
* DNA sequence
* DNA sequencing
* DNA snippet
* DNA test
* DNA testing
* DNA virus

##### Related terms

* GNA
* PNA
* RNA
* TNA
* XNA

##### Translations
#### Verb

DNA (third-person singular simple present DNAs, present participle DNAing, simple past and past participle DNAed)
* (transitive) To examine a sample of (someone's) deoxyribonucleic acid.
** 2002, Matthew Stokoe, High Life, New York, N.Y.: Akashic Books, published 2008, →ISBN, page 261:The only way we're gonna know is if we DNA him against the spunk in Karen.
** 2004, Michael Sheridan, Death in December: The Story of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, updated edition, Dublin: O’Brien, →ISBN, page 194:The barrister went on to say that his client 'remains persecuted and victimised. He has been DNAed; his hair, his blood and his clothes. Nothing. No charges have ever been brought.'
** 2020, Julian Mitchell, A Devon Deception‎, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire: Matador, →ISBN:Maybe nothing to do with the break-in, but worth fingerprinting the wrapper and DNAing the gum.

##### Translations
### Etymology 2

An initialism of the various terms listed below. The verb sense is derived from noun sense 7.

#### Proper noun

DNA
* (US, military, historical) Defense Nuclear Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Defense which existed from 1971 to 1996 and has since been reorganized as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

#### Phrase

DNA
* Did not answer.
* Did not arrive (used when someone fails to keep an appointment).
* Did not attend.
* Do not assume.
* Does not apply.
* Drugs 'n' alcohol.
* (US, military) Do not arm (that is, do not provide with a firearm).

#### Verb

DNA (third-person singular simple present DNAs, present participle DNAing, simple past and past participle DNAed)
* (US, military) To place (someone) under a DNA (do not arm) order because of mental illness.
** 2018, Jeanne Marie Laskas, To Obama, with Love, Joy, Hate and Despair, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, page 239:She had her weapons back. She wasn't DNA'd anymore. But she didn't use a weapon. That's not how she did it.

##### Translations
### References

* ↑ “DNA, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2022; “DNA, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

### Further reading

* DNA on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### Anagrams

* -and, -dan, ADN, AND, DAN, Dan, Dan., NAD, NDA, and, and-, dan, nad

## Chinese
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA.

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): dì'ēn'ēi, dì'ēn nēi
    (Zhuyin): ㄉㄧˋ ㄣ ㄟ, ㄉㄧˋ ㄣ ㄋㄟ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): di$^1$ en$^1$ ei$^1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: dì'ēn'ēi
*** Zhuyin: ㄉㄧˋ ㄣ ㄟ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: dì-en-ei
*** Wade–Giles: ti$^4$-ên$^1$-ei$^1$
*** Yale: dì-ēn-ēi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dihenei
*** Palladius: диэньэй (dienʹej)
*** Sinological IPA : /ti⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ ˀeɪ̯⁵⁵/
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: dì'ēn nēi
*** Zhuyin: ㄉㄧˋ ㄣ ㄋㄟ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: dì-en nei
*** Wade–Giles: ti$^4$-ên$^1$ nei$^1$
*** Yale: dì-ēn nēi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dihen nhei
*** Palladius: диэнь нэй (dienʹ nɛj)
*** Sinological IPA : /ti⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ neɪ̯⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: di$^1$ en$^1$ ei$^1$
*** Cantonese Pinyin: di$^1$ en$^1$ ei$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /tiː⁵⁵ ɛːn⁵⁵ ei̯⁵⁵/

### Noun

DNA
* DNA
    Synonym: 脫氧核糖核酸 / 脱氧核糖核酸 (tuōyǎnghétánghésuān)
    驗DNA／验DNA [Cantonese] ― jim$^6$ di$^1$ en$^1$ ei$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to do a DNA test

## Dutch
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /deː.ɛnˈaː/
* Audio:(file)

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from English DNA.

#### Noun

DNA n (plural DNA's)
* Initialism of desoxyribonucleïnezuur (“deoxyribonucleic acid”).

### Etymology 2

Initialism of De Nationale Assemblee (“The National Assembly”).

#### Proper noun

DNA f or m
* (Suriname) National Assembly of Suriname

##### Derived terms

* DNA-lid

### Anagrams

* dan

## Finnish
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈdeːˌænˌɑː/, [ˈde̞ːˌænˌɑ̝ː]
* Rhymes: -ɑː

### Noun

DNA
* DNA

#### Declension

Inflection of DNA (Kotus type 18/maa)
singular
plural
nominative
DNA
DNA:t
genitive
DNA:n
DNA:iden DNA:itten
partitive
DNA:ta
DNA:ita
accusative
DNA DNA:n
DNA:t
inessive
DNA:ssa
DNA:issa
elative
DNA:sta
DNA:ista
illative
DNA:han
DNA:ihin
adessive
DNA:lla
DNA:illa
ablative
DNA:lta
DNA:ilta
allative
DNA:lle
DNA:ille
essive
DNA:na
DNA:ina
translative
DNA:ksi
DNA:iksi
abessive
DNA:tta
DNA:itta
instructive
DNA:in
comitative
DNA:ineen :

#### Derived terms

* DNA-siru

### Further reading

* “DNA”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-02

### Anagrams

* Dan

## French
### Proper noun

DNA f pl (plural only)
* Initialism of Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (“Latest News from Alsace, a French periodical”).

### Anagrams

* ADN

## German
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA, from deoxyribonucleic acid. Replacing DNS from the calque Desoxyribonukleinsäure.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [deːʔɛnˈʔaː]
* Audio:(file)

### Noun

DNA f (genitive DNA, no plural)
* (molecular biology) DNA, Synonym of Desoxyribonukleinsäure

#### Derived terms

* DNA-Doppelstrang
* DNA-Molekül

### Further reading

* “DNA” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

## Italian
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA.

### Noun

DNA
* DNA
    Synonym: ADN

### Anagrams

* ADN

## Japanese
### Etymology

From English DNA.

### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) ディーエヌエー [dìíénúéꜜè] (Nakadaka – [5])
* IPA: [dʲiːe̞nɯ̟e̞ː]

### Noun

DNA(ディーエヌエー) • (dī-enu-ē)
* (genetics, biochemistry) Synonym of デオキシリボ核酸 (deokishiribo-kakusan, “deoxyribonucleic acid”); DNA

### See also

* R(アール)N(エヌ)A(エー) (āru-enu-ē)

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Noun

DNA n (definite singular DNA-et, indefinite plural DNA, definite plural DNA-a or DNA-ene)
* DNA

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Noun

DNA n (definite singular DNA-et, indefinite plural DNA, definite plural DNA-a)
* DNA

## Polish
### Etymology

Orthographic borrowing from English DNA.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /dɛ.ɛnˈa/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -a
* Syllabification: D‧N‧A

### Noun

DNA m inan or n (indeclinable)
* (genetics, molecular biology) Abbreviation of kwas dezoksyrybonukleinowy.
    Synonyms: kwas deoksyrybonukleinowy, kwas dezoksyrybonukleinowy

### Further reading

* DNA in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* DNA in Polish dictionaries at PWN

## Portuguese
### Etymology

Orthographic borrowing from English DNA.

### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈde ˈẽ.ne. ˈa/
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈde ˈẽ.ne. ˈa/
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈde ˈe.ne. ˈa/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈde ˈɛ.nɨ. ˈa/

### Noun

DNA m (plural DNAs)
* Alternative form of ADN

## Romanian
### Noun

DNA n (plural DNA-uri)
* (initialism) Direcția Națională Anticorupție.

#### Declension
## Spanish
### Noun

DNA m (plural DNA)
* (biochemistry) DNA
    Synonym: ADN

### Further reading

* “DNA”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

## Swahili
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA.

### Proper noun

DNA
* DNA
    Synonym: ADN

## Swedish
### Alternative forms

* dna

### Noun

DNA n
* (biochemistry, genetics) DNA
    Synonym: deoxiribonukleinsyra

#### See also

* RNA
* arvsanlag
* arvsmassa
* gen
* genetik

### References

* DNA in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* DNA in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)

## Tagalog
### Etymology

Borrowed from English DNA, an initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid.

### Pronunciation

* (Standard Tagalog) IPA: /ˌdi ʔen ˈʔej/ [ˌd̪i ʔɛn̪ ˈʔeɪ̯]
* Rhymes: -ej

### Noun

DNA (Baybayin spelling ᜇ᜔ᜈ)
* (biochemistry, genetics) DNA

### Further reading

* “DNA”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018

## Turkish
### Noun

DNA
* Initialism of deoksiribonükleik asit. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)