What are the differences between DNA and cDNA?

Question

Accepted Answer

DNA and cDNA are two types of nucleic acids that are composed of deoxyribonucleotides. There are significant differences between the two.

Basis of differentiation

DNA

cDNA

Definition

Refers to a type of nucleic acid that occurs naturally in the genome of several organisms and serves as their genetic material

Refers to a form of nucleic acid that is artificially synthesized using mRNA of an organism as the template

Occurrence in nature

Occurs naturally

Does not occur naturally

Template used

DNA

mRNA

Synthesized from

Existing genomes

Cytosolic mRNA

Synthesized during

DNA replication

Reverse transcription

Enzyme involved

DNA polymerase

Reverse transcriptase

Number of strands

Double-stranded

Single-stranded

Quantity of base pairs

Larger number of base pairs compared to cDNA

Fewer base pairs than DNA

Presence of coding and non-coding sequences

Both coding and non-coding sequences (introns and exons) are present

Only coding regions or exons are present – lacks introns or noncoding regions

Collective name

The total DNA of an organism is called the genome

The total cDNA of an organism is called the transcriptome

Used to create

Genomic libraries

cDNA libraries

Basis of differentiation	DNA	cDNA
Definition	Refers to a type of nucleic acid that occurs naturally in the genome of several organisms and serves as their genetic material	Refers to a form of nucleic acid that is artificially synthesized using mRNA of an organism as the template
Occurrence in nature	Occurs naturally	Does not occur naturally
Template used	DNA	mRNA
Synthesized from	Existing genomes	Cytosolic mRNA
Synthesized during	DNA replication	Reverse transcription
Enzyme involved	DNA polymerase	Reverse transcriptase
Number of strands	Double-stranded	Single-stranded
Quantity of base pairs	Larger number of base pairs compared to cDNA	Fewer base pairs than DNA
Presence of coding and non-coding sequences	Both coding and non-coding sequences (introns and exons) are present	Only coding regions or exons are present – lacks introns or noncoding regions
Collective name	The total DNA of an organism is called the genome	The total cDNA of an organism is called the transcriptome
Used to create	Genomic libraries	cDNA libraries