Definition: The molecule that encodes genetic information. DNA is a double-stranded molecule held together by weak bonds between base pairs of nucleotides.

The four nucleotides in DNA contain the bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In nature, base pairs form only between A and T and between G and C; thus the base sequence of each single strand can be deduced from that of its partner.

See also

 DNA repair
 DNA methylation
 DNA damage response pathways
 DNA glycosylases
 DNA double-strand break
 DNA helicases
 DNA damage
 DNA loops
 DNA repair nucleases
 oxidative stress
 DNA ligases
 DNA mismatch repair
 DNA double-strand break repair
 DNA replication
 DNA repair diseases
 DNA methyltransferases
 DNA hypermethylation
 genome integrity

References

 Szathmary E. Why are there four letters in the genetic alphabet? Nat Rev Genet. 2003 Dec;4(12):995-1001. PMID: #14631359#