reverse transcription

American  

[ri-vurs-tran-skrip-shuhn] / rɪˈvɜrs trænˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. Genetics. the process of synthesizing double-stranded DNA from an RNA template by means of reverse transcriptase. Compare transcription.

---

reverse transcription Scientific  

1. The process by which DNA is synthesized from an RNA template by means of the enzyme reverse transcriptase.

---

Other Word Forms

• reverse-transcription adjective

Example Sentences

It was during this work that he discovered an enzyme that enabled a virus made of RNA to be copied into DNA, a process known as reverse transcription.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025

While performing the reverse transcription, the reverse transcriptase maintained its position relative to the Cas9 protein.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2024

“I have no doubt that reverse transcription can happen in vitro with optimized conditions,” Ott says.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 16, 2020

And the primary test for the novel coronavirus—the RT-PCR, or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction—is “actually really good,” said Jeff Pothof, chief quality officer at UW Health.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2020

The standard testing technique for Ebola is known as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2014