Back Gate by Tiburon

Puzzle explanation

Misprints from five sets of four clues spelt DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID. Between each of these sets, the corrections for the remaining clues spelt CYTOSINE, GUANINE, THYMINE and ADENINE, the four base nucleotides of DNA. The letters DNA appear in the centre of the grid enclosed by two curves depicting the projection of a double helix. These curves trace the names Wilkins, Watson, Franklin and Crick, the quartet credited with the seminal discovery of this structure. The title is a cryptic indication of DNA (AND (gate) backwards).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprints Answer Explanation
Across
1 D: Co(V)ers STROWS S(preadshee)T + ROWS
6 E: (L)ast AFTMOST SOFT MAT *
11 O: capit(A)l HONIARA (A + RA + I’ + NOH) <
13 X: ne(A)t RIATA AIR < + TA
14 (C)onger SEA EEL SEAL about E(ngin)E
15 stor(Y) ANANIAS I in ANANAS; “story” as in lie
17 (T)extiles NINONS Last letters
18 (O)xbridge RAG WEEK EAGER * about W + K
21 li(S)t UNROLL (SUN + ROLLS (Royce)) – SS; the subtraction suggests getting out of ship
23 t(I)nt AENEOUS AE + NOUS about E
24 (N)ymph MAELID MALE * + ID
26 l(E)an ASLOPE A + P in SLOE
29 Y: bra(S)s TUTENAG TUTE(e) + NAG
32 R: Dec(A)y WET ROT W + E + TROT
37 I: p(O)pes AARONIC OCARINA *
39 B: (D)ally COQUET CROQUET – R
42 Lar(G)e ARAL SEA ALS [also] in AREA
43 sn(U)g INTIME Two definitions, one leading to IN TIME
44 c(A)y LARGO LA [ah] + R + GO; reference Key Largo
45 ta(N)k DRACONE CARD. < + ONE [cardinal number]
46 squ(I)re DEMESNE (N + SEEMED) *
47 pu(N)cheons SKEANS SNAKES *
Down
1 Rattl(E) SISTRUM SI + STRUM
2 O: Cr(E)on THEBAN THEN about BA
3 N: Ba(Y) ROAN Two definitions
4 U: pa(S)ses ONE-TWO O(bvious) + W/O after NET [verb]
5 C: A(V)e SALVE SAVE about L
6 (T)oddy ARAK KARA <
7 (H)ealth TRAIK T + RAIK
8 arm(Y) MINNIE NI in MINE
9 Co(M)ic STAND-UP Two definitions, one leading to STAND UP
10 su(I)t TASSE TASTE, second T to S
12 (N)ame ANNIE ANNEX, IE for EX
16 pât(É) DELI (I + LED) <
19 L: Poo(H) KANGA Two definitions, one referring to a character in Winnie-the-Pooh
20 E: s(U)gar GOOR G(rouch)O + O + (ciga)R
22 I: N(E)t RETE Letters in (prime) places 2, 3, 5 and 7 in TREATMENT
25 C: (M)orns AURORAE (EAR + OR) < after AU
27 (A)rid SERE S + HERE – H
28 en(D)uring ETCHERS ET + C + HEIRS – I
30 Ble(E)d EMULGE LEGUME *
31 do(N)e ACTED A + C + TED
33 l(I)ke TOETOE TO + E + TO + E
34 ru(N) OILMEN OIL + MEN
35 Po(E)t SCALD SC. + ALD
36 A: d(O)sh PESOS PE + SOS
38 C: (N)ame ALIAS À + LIAS
40 I: d(O)ne RARE RE about (A + R)
41 D: bar(K) KINA KIN + A
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