COMPLEMENTARY DNA Meaning and
Definition
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Complementary DNA (cDNA) is a type of DNA molecule that is synthetically produced in the laboratory using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. It is derived from a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which acts as a template for the synthesis of the complementary DNA strand. Unlike genomic DNA, which consists of all the DNA sequences in an organism, cDNA only represents the coding regions of genes that are transcribed into mRNA.
The process of creating cDNA involves the conversion of mRNA into its DNA counterpart by reverse transcriptase, which adds complementary nucleotides to the mRNA template. This results in the formation of a single-stranded cDNA molecule that is complementary to the original mRNA sequence. To create a double-stranded cDNA molecule, a second DNA strand is synthesized using DNA polymerase, which extends the cDNA single strand with complementary nucleotides.
Complementary DNA has a wide range of applications in molecular biology research. It is commonly used for cloning genes, as it lacks non-coding introns found in genomic DNA, simplifying the study of gene sequences. cDNA is also widely utilized for gene expression analysis and the study of gene function. By synthesizing cDNA from specific cell types or tissues, researchers can identify the genes that are active in those particular cells and gain insights into their function. Additionally, cDNA libraries, which are collections of cDNA molecules representing all expressed genes in an organism or tissue, are valuable resources for studying gene expression and identifying potential drug targets.
Common Misspellings for COMPLEMENTARY DNA
- xomplementary dna
- vomplementary dna
- fomplementary dna
- domplementary dna
- cimplementary dna
- ckmplementary dna
- clmplementary dna
- cpmplementary dna
- c0mplementary dna
- c9mplementary dna
- conplementary dna
- cokplementary dna
- cojplementary dna
- comolementary dna
- comllementary dna
- com-lementary dna
- com0lementary dna
- compkementary dna
- comppementary dna
Etymology of COMPLEMENTARY DNA
The word "complementary DNA" is derived from the combination of two terms: "complementary" and "DNA".
The term "complementary" refers to the concept of a relationship between two things that complete or enhance each other. In the context of genetics, complementary strands of DNA are the two strands of nucleotides that make up the double helix structure of DNA. The bases on one strand pair with their complementary bases on the other strand, creating a specific and complementary sequence.
The term "DNA" stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is the genetic material that carries the hereditary information in living organisms. DNA is composed of a sequence of nucleotides, and the complementary DNA strand is the sequence that pairs specifically with a given DNA strand through base pairing rules (A with T and C with G) during DNA replication or other molecular processes.
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