| nucleic acid heteroduplexes | Double-stranded nucleic acid molecules (DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA) which contain regions of nucleotide mismatches (non-complementary). In vivo, these heteroduplexes can result from mutation or genetic recombination; in vitro, they are formed by nucleic acid hybridization. Electron microscopic analysis of the resulting heteroduplexes facilitates the mapping of regions of base sequence homology of nucleic acids. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| nucleic acid hybridization | Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded dnas or rnas to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (kendrew, encyclopedia of molecular biology, 1994, p503; dorlands, 28th ed, p781) (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acid precursors | Use for nucleic acid precursors in general or for which there is no specific heading. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acid probe | A nucleic acid fragment, labelled by a radioisotope, biotin, etc., that is complementary to a sequence in another nucleic acid (fragment) and that will, by hydrogen binding to the latter, locate or identify it and be detected; a diagnostic technique based on the fact that every species of microbe possesses some unique nucleic acid sequences which differentiate it from all others, and thus can be used as identifying markers or "fingerprints." (05 Mar 2000) |
| nucleic acid probes | Nucleic acid which complements a specific mRNA or DNA molecule, or fragment thereof; used for hybridization studies in order to identify microorganisms and for genetic studies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acid renaturation | The reformation of all, or part of, the native conformation of a nucleic acid molecule after the molecule has undergone denaturation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors | Compounds that inhibit cell production of DNA or RNA. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acids | Highly complex portions of nucleoproteins that yield a mixture of purines and pyrimidines, a ribose or deoxyribose component, and phosphoric acid on complete hydrolysis. The two general types are ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleic acids, nucleotides, and nucleosides | Complex compounds of high molecular weight occurring in living cells. These are basically of two types, ribonucleic (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic (DNA) acids, both of which consist of nucleotides (nucleoside phosphates linked together by phosphate bridges). (12 Dec 1998) |
| nucleiform | Shaped like or having the appearance of a nucleus. Synonym: nucleoid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuclein | The term used by Friedrich Miescher to describe the nuclear material he discovered in 1869, which today is known as DNA. (09 Oct 1997) |
| nucleinase | An obsolete term for nuclease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nucleinic base | An obsolete term for purine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nucleo- | Nucl- Nucleus, nuclear. See: karyo-, caryo-. Origin: L. Nucleus (05 Mar 2000) |
| nucleobranch | <zoology> Belonging to the Nucleobranchiata. One of the Nucleobranchiata. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |