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cDNA library
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Diagram illustrating the creation of a cDNA library: mRNA undergoes reverse transcription to form cDNA, which is cleaved and combined with cleaved plasmid vectors using ligation, then inserted into E. coli bacteria for amplification, resulting in test tubes containing a cDNA library of actively transcribed genes.
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Illustrated strands of DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid, biology.
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cDNA library

Also known as: complementary DNA library
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Diagram illustrating the creation of a cDNA library: mRNA undergoes reverse transcription to form cDNA, which is cleaved and combined with cleaved plasmid vectors using ligation, then inserted into E. coli bacteria for amplification, resulting in test tubes containing a cDNA library of actively transcribed genes.
cDNA library The collection of only the genes that are encoded into proteins by an organism is known as a cDNA library. Complementary DNA, or cDNA, is created through reverse transcription of messenger RNA, and a library of cDNAs is generated using DNA cloning technology.

A cDNA library is a collection of complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments that represent the messenger RNA (mRNA) from a specific cell or tissue at a given time. Unlike a genomic library, which contains all the DNA from an organism's genome, a cDNA library only includes sequences that have been transcribed into mRNA, meaning it represents the genes that are actively being expressed.1

The creation of a cDNA library begins with mRNA molecules. These are then treated with an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes a DNA copy of the mRNA template. This resulting DNA is known as complementary DNA (cDNA). These cDNA molecules can then be cloned and amplified, creating a library that provides a snapshot of the genes being used by the cell. This technique is valuable for studying gene expression and for isolating genes that code for proteins.12

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. cDNA
  2. recombinant DNA - Creating the clone
  3. genetics - Molecular techniques

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