cDNAFragment

cDNAFragment refers to a segment of complementary DNA (cDNA) that has been generated or isolated. cDNA itself is synthesized from messenger RNA (mRNA) using a reverse transcriptase enzyme. This process effectively creates a DNA copy of a specific RNA molecule. Therefore, a cDNAFragment represents a portion of such a DNA copy.

These fragments are crucial in molecular biology research. They can arise from various experimental procedures, such as partial digestion of longer cDNA molecules with restriction enzymes or through the fragmentation of cDNA libraries. The size and sequence of a cDNAFragment are determined by the original mRNA transcript and the method of fragmentation.

cDNAFragments are widely used in techniques like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for gene amplification, cloning to study gene expression or to isolate specific genes, and in sequencing to determine the genetic code. By analyzing cDNAFragments, researchers can infer information about the genes that were actively transcribed in a cell or tissue at a particular time. The ability to work with discrete cDNAFragments allows for targeted investigation and manipulation of genetic material.