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What are the differences between DNA and cDNA?
Posted April 19, 2023
DNA and cDNA are two types of nucleic acids that are composed of deoxyribonucleotides. There are significant differences between the two.
Basis of differentiation |
DNA |
cDNA |
|
Definition |
Refers to a type of nucleic acid that occurs naturally in the genome of several organisms and serves as their genetic material |
Refers to a form of nucleic acid that is artificially synthesized using mRNA of an organism as the template |
|
Occurrence in nature |
Occurs naturally |
Does not occur naturally |
|
Template used |
mRNA | |
|
Synthesized from |
Existing genomes |
Cytosolic mRNA |
|
Synthesized during |
DNA replication |
Reverse transcription |
|
Enzyme involved |
DNA polymerase |
Reverse transcriptase |
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Number of strands |
Double-stranded |
Single-stranded |
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Quantity of base pairs |
Larger number of base pairs compared to cDNA |
Fewer base pairs than DNA |
|
Presence of coding and non-coding sequences |
Both coding and non-coding sequences (introns and exons) are present |
Only coding regions or exons are present – lacks introns or noncoding regions |
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Collective name |
The total DNA of an organism is called the genome |
The total cDNA of an organism is called the transcriptome |
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Used to create |
Genomic libraries |
cDNA libraries |
Detection, purification, and characterization of cDNA clones encoding DNA-binding proteins