complementary strand

American  

noun

Biochemistry.

1. either of the two chains that make up a double helix of DNA, with corresponding positions on the two chains being composed of a pair of complementary bases.

2. a section of one nucleic acid chain that is bonded to another by a sequence of base pairs.

---

Example Sentences

The damaged copy of a gene is reconstructed using the complementary strand, or the second copy of the gene, as its guide.*

From Literature

In this case, the structure is further stabilized by binding of the displaced strand to the secondary DNA-binding site, as well as by base-pairing interactions between the complementary strand and the presynaptic single-stranded DNA.

From Nature

When a cell divides, each daughter cell inherits either the Watson or Crick strand from the parent; this provides a template from which the other, complementary strand is repli cated.

From Nature

Aitken and colleagues observed that transcription-coupled repair occurred preferentially on the strand being transcribed, as opposed to the complementary strand, and that higher levels of transcription were associated with an increased frequency of repair.

From Nature

RAD51 then assists in the binding of the ssDNA to a complementary strand that serves as a template for error-free repair.

From Nature