Polynucleotide 2763223 173830461 2007-11-26T05:06:56Z Mild Bill Hiccup 5202324 "comprised of" --> "composed of" A '''polynucleotide''' molecule is an [[organic chemistry|organic]] [[polymer]] molecule composed of [[nucleotide]] [[monomer]]s covalently bonded in a chain. [[DNA]] (deoxyribonucleic acid) and [[RNA]] (ribonucleic acid) are examples of polynucleotides with distinct biological function. The prefix ''poly'' comes from the [[ancient Greek]] πολυς (polys, ''many''). <!-- ==Sequence== Although DNA and RNA do not generally occur in the same polynucleotide, the four species of nucleotides may occur in any order in the chain. The sequence of DNA or RNA species for a given polynucleotide is the main factor determining its function in a living [[organism]] or a scientific [[experiment]]. --> ==Polynucleotides in organisms== Polynucleotides occur naturally in all living organisms. The [[genome]] of an organism consists of complementary pairs of enormously long polynucleotides wound around each other in the form of a [[double helix]]. Polynucleotides have a variety of other roles in organisms. ==Polynucleotides in scientific experiments== Polynucleotides are used in biochemical experiments such as [[PCR|polymerase chain reaction]] (PCR) or DNA sequencing. Polynucleotides are made artificially from [[oligonucleotide]]s, smaller nucleotide chains with generally fewer than 30 subunits. An [[polymerase]] [[enzyme]] is used to extend the chain by adding nucleotides according to a pattern specified by the scientist. [[Category:Genetics]] [[Category:Organic polymers]] [[Category:Nucleotides]] [[de:Polynukleotid]] [[es:Polinucleótido]] [[lt:Polinukleotidai]] [[mk:Полинуклеотид]] [[pt:Polinucleótido]] [[sk:Polynukleotid]]