complementary DNA

complementary DNA

n. Abbr. cDNA

Single-stranded DNA synthesized in the laboratory using messenger RNA as a template and the enzyme reverse transcriptase.

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complementary DNA

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) a form of DNA artificially synthesized from a messenger RNA template and used in genetic engineering to produce gene clones Abbreviation cDNA

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complementary DNA

Single-stranded DNA synthesized in the laboratory using messenger RNA as a template and the enzyme reverse transcriptase. Complementary DNA is used for many purposes such as mapping chromosomes, creating clones, and sequencing genes.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

complementary DNA - single-stranded DNA that is complementary to messenger RNA or DNA that has been synthesized from messenger RNA by reverse transcriptase cDNA provirus - cDNA copy of the RNA genome of a retrovirus; the genetic material of a virus as incorporated into and able to replicate with the genome of a host cell dscDNA - double-stranded cDNA deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA - (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information; "DNA is the king of molecules"