Definition
One of the four organic bases found in DNA and RNA. Adenine pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA. Adenine is denoted by the letter ‘A’.
Use in clinical context
The pairing of bases allows DNA to accurately replicate itself and to be transcribed into RNA. The order of bases in a gene determines the order of amino acids in a protein. Changes to the bases can result in changes to the amino acids and the resulting protein function. Determining the order of bases is the aim of sequencing as this can then be used to identify functional changes in the DNA.
Related terms
Amino acids | Bases | Cytosine | Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | Gene | Guanine | Nucleic acid | Protein | Ribonucleic acid (RNA) | Semiconservative replication | Sequencing | Thymine | Transcription | Uracil
