What does the acronym DNA stand for?

The acronym DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. This term describes a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

Deoxyribonucleic acid consists of two strands that coil around each other to form a double helix, which is a structure essential for its ability to store and transmit genetic information. The "deoxyribo" part of the name refers to the sugar component of the backbone of the DNA molecule, which is deoxyribose. The "nucleic acid" portion indicates that DNA is a type of nucleic acid, which is vital for coding genetic information.

Understanding the specific structure and function of DNA is crucial in fields such as genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry, as it plays a fundamental role in heredity and the mechanisms of cellular processes.