complementary DNA

[ kom-pluh-men-tuh-ree dee-en-ahy ]

noun

1. cDNA.

complementary DNA

noun

1. a form of DNA artificially synthesized from a messenger RNA template and used in genetic engineering to produce gene clones cDNA

complementary DNA

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of complementary DNA¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The 'DNA origami' technique uses the specific interactions between complementary DNA base pairs to build dynamic 3D nano-objects.

From Science Daily

The unique ability of complementary DNA sequences to recognize and assemble as duplexes is the biochemical mechanism for how genes are read and copied.

From Science Daily

The samples would be warmed up again, and enzymes would get to work building off those primers to finish replicating the complementary DNA sequences.

From Scientific American

Then, they added enzymes and DNA bases to the slice to translate each mRNA into a complementary DNA strand.

From Science Magazine

When the fluorophore-carrying hairpin is added to the system, the unmasked monosaccharide code hybridizes with the complementary DNA sequence in that hairpin.

From Nature