cdna

cdna — noun

1. a type of DNA that scientists create in a laboratory by copying a molecule of RN

1.名詞C1
釋義

a type of DNA that scientists create in a laboratory by copying a molecule of RNA, using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase; it is used in genetic research to study genes and how they are expressed in different cells or conditions.

例句

Researchers used cDNA to study which genes were active in the cancer cells.

used to study gene activity (research context)

The scientist made cDNA from messenger RNA using reverse transcriptase in the lab.

synthesised from mRNA using reverse transcriptase

同義詞
  • complementary DNA

    the full form of the acronym, used when first introducing the term in formal writing

  • copy DNA

    a less common alternative name that reflects its origin as a copied molecule

反義詞
  • genomic DNA

    DNA extracted directly from the cell nucleus, which contains both coding and non-coding regions

用法筆記

Almost always written in lowercase as 'cDNA' in scientific writing. The full form 'complementary DNA' is used when introducing the term for the first time in a text.

常見錯誤

cDNA and genomic DNA are the same thing.
cDNA is made from RNA and lacks introns, unlike genomic DNA which contains both exons and introns.
💡cDNA is a laboratory-made copy that does not include non-coding regions.