noun
- a molecule composed of a chain of nucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds; a polymer of nucleotides.
Usage: technical; biochemistry
Examples
- DNA and RNA are both polynucleotides that carry genetic information.
- The polynucleotide chain is formed when nucleotides bond together in a specific sequence.
- Scientists study polynucleotides to understand how genetic material is structured.
- A polynucleotide can be broken down into individual nucleotide units through hydrolysis.
- The length and sequence of a polynucleotide determine its biological function.