In biochemistry, relating to or describing a DNA molecule that is missing a nitrogenous base (one of the chemical building blocks of DNA).
From 'a-' (without) + 'basic' (relating to bases), specifically the nitrogenous bases that form the rungs of the DNA ladder. This is specialized scientific terminology from molecular biology.
An abasic site in DNA is like a missing rung on the DNA ladder—it doesn't stop the ladder from existing, but it creates a weak point that cells have special 'repair crews' to fix. Cancer can sometimes result from accumulating too many of these damaged sites.
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