cDNA

Complementary DNA.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) is single-stranded DNA that is complementary to a certain sequence of messenger RNA. It is usually formed in a laboratory by the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase on a messenger RNA template. Complementary DNA is a popular tool for molecular hybridization or cloning studies.

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(sē'dē'ĕn-ā')
n.

Complementary DNA; single-stranded DNA that is complementary to mRNA in the presence of reverse transcriptase.

1. complementary DNA.
2. copy DNA.

• cDNA(2) library — a collection of cloned, double stranded, copy DNA molecules obtained from a single organism.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: single-stranded DNA that is complementary to messenger RNA or DNA that has been synthesized from messenger RNA by reverse transcriptase
  Synonym: complementary DNA

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