DRAW IT Identify and mark each of the following in making cDNA: transcription, RNA processing, reverse transcription, DNA polymerase, cDNA.
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Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the starting material, which is the mRNA, as it is the template for cDNA synthesis.
2. Mark the process of reverse transcription, where reverse transcriptase enzyme synthesizes complementary DNA (cDNA) from the mRNA template.
3. Indicate RNA processing, which involves the modification of the primary RNA transcript, including splicing, capping, and polyadenylation, before it is used for reverse transcription.
4. Highlight the role of DNA polymerase, which is used to synthesize the second strand of DNA, resulting in a double-stranded cDNA molecule.
5. Label the final product as cDNA, which is the complementary DNA synthesized from the mRNA template.

Key Concepts

Transcription

Transcription is the process by which the genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). This occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, where RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. The resulting mRNA carries the genetic instructions from the DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.

Reverse Transcription

Reverse transcription is the process by which RNA is converted back into DNA. This is catalyzed by the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template. This process is crucial in molecular biology, particularly in the creation of cDNA libraries and in the study of gene expression.

cDNA and DNA Polymerase

cDNA, or complementary DNA, is synthesized from an RNA template through reverse transcription. Once cDNA is formed, DNA polymerase can be used to amplify this cDNA, creating more copies for further analysis. DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand, playing a vital role in DNA replication and amplification techniques.