National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Dictionary of Cancer Terms
Send to Printer
reverse transcription (ree-VERS tran-SKRIP-shun)

 In biology, the process in cells by which an enzyme makes a copy of DNA from RNA. The enzyme that makes the DNA copy is called reverse transcriptase and is found in retroviruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Reverse transcription can also be carried out in the laboratory.

Previous Definitions:retrospective, retrospective cohort study, retrospective study, retroviral vector, retrovirus
Next Definitions:ReVia, Revlimid, RevM10 gene, Reye syndrome, rF-TRICOM