Reverse transcription

Reverse transcription makes DNA from an RNA template using a reverse transcriptase. It reverses the template/product relationship of ordinary transcription, which makes RNA from DNA. The resulting Complementary DNA can supply a template for PCR amplification.^[ref]

An enzyme that can synthesize DNA from an RNA template during reverse transcription.

Complementary DNA is DNA made from an RNA template by reverse transcription. When its template is mature messenger RNA, its sequence reflects the processed transcript rather than every intervening intron in the corresponding gene.