Complementary DNA


Complementary DNA: Single-stranded DNA made in the laboratory from a messenger RNA template under the aegis of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This form of DNA is often used as a probe in the physical mapping of a chromosome. Abbreviated as cDNA.

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    Complementary medicine: A group of diagnostic and therapeutic disciplines that are used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using acupuncture in addition to usual care to help lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery. Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine. Whereas complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, alternative […]

  • Complementary sequence

    Complementary sequence: Nucleic acid sequence of bases that can form a double- stranded structure by matching base pairs. For example, the complementary sequence to C-A-T-G (where each letter stands for one of the bases in DNA) is G-T-A-C.

  • Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

    Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: An older term for the complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, a genetic disorder that makes XY fetuses insensitive (unresponsive) to androgens (male hormones). Instead, they are born looking externally like normal girls. Internally, there is a short blind-pouch vagina and no uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. There are testes in the abdomen […]

  • Complete blood count

    A set values of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These measurements are generally determined by specially designed machines that analyze the different components of blood in less than a minute. The values generally included are the following: White blood cell count (WBC). The number of white blood cells in a volume of blood. Normal […]

  • Complete hysterectomy

    Complete surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Also called a total hysterectomy.


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