Composed of deoxyribonucleotides, DNA and cDNA are two kinds of nucleic acids.
DNA are molecules comprising two polynucleotide chains coiling around each other, forming a double helix that carries the genetic information for the growth, development, reproduction and functioning of all living entities.
cDNA is the DNA that is synthesized from the mRNA or miRNA template in a reaction that is catalyzed by a reverse transcriptase enzyme that is originally isolated from the retrovirus. In order to be cloned, cDNA does not require to be snipped.
The differentiating factor between DNA and cDNA is that the DNA comprises both introns and exons, whereas cDNA contains only exons – the coding regions.
DNA
- It serves as the genetic content for several living entities, even bacteria. This content is in the form of genes and nucleotide sequences in the molecules of DNA.
- It is through gametes at the time of reproduction the parental DNA is transmitted to its offspring.
- DNA is arranged in the long structures – chromosomes in the eukaryotic cells. Through the process of DNA replication, prior to cell division, chromosomes are duplicated. This provides a full set of chromosomes for each of the daughter cells.
- As nuclear DNA, most of the DNA is stored in the nucleus of the cell in eukaryotic entities. Some of it is in mitochondria as mitochondrial DNA or as chloroplasts in chloroplast DNA.
cDNA
- cDNA (Complementary DNA) is synthesized from an mRNA – from a single-stranded RNA template in the reaction, which is catalyzed by the reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase enzyme.
- Often, cDNA is used in the cloning of eukaryotic genes in prokaryotes.
- cDNA lacks introns
- These are also generated for the analysis of transcriptomic profiles in single cells, bulk tissues or single nuclei in assays.
Key Difference between DNA and cDNA
The table below depicts the difference between DNA and cDNA.
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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) |
cDNA(Complementary DNA) |
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What is it? |
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It is a type of nucleic acid that serves as a genetic material for several entities. It naturally occurs in the genome of several entities. |
It is a form of nucleic acid that is artificially synthesized from the mRNA of an entity. |
|
What is the template used? |
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DNA |
mRNA |
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Occurrence in nature |
|
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Naturally |
Artificially |
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It is synthesized from |
|
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Existing genomes |
Cytosolic mRNA |
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It is synthesized during |
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DNA replication |
Reverse transcription |
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The enzyme involved is |
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DNA polymerase |
Reverse transcriptase |
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Number of strands |
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Double-stranded |
Single-stranded |
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Quantity of base pairs contained |
|
|
Larger number |
Fewer base pairs in comparison to DNA |
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Consists of coding or non-coding sequences |
|
|
Both coding and non-coding sequences |
Lacks introns, contains exons, coding regions only |
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What can it be used to produce? |
|
|
Genomic libraries |
cDNA libraries |
You read some differences between DNA and cDNA.
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