reverse transcriptase
noun
: a polymerase especially of retroviruses that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template
Examples of reverse transcriptase in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One promising approach involves repurposing reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a class of drugs originally developed to treat HIV.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
For example, Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) associated with nephrotoxicity.
—Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2025
Mice engineered to lack key immune genes didn’t show such a dramatic ramp up in red blood cells during pregnancy, and nor did animals treated with drugs known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which block the enzyme retrotransposons use to copy and paste themselves.
—Bycatherine Offord, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024
The medications target a unique enzyme in HIV called reverse transcriptase, which then prevents the virus from replicating and infecting cells in the body, Alan explains.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 9 Dec. 2021
The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
—Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 6 May 2021
Viral Detection To determine whether a nasopharyngeal sample is positive for the coronavirus, biotechnicians use a technique known as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR.
—Jim Daley, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2020
At a lab, a technician performs a test often used for flu – a RT-PCR, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 24 Mar. 2020
To make cDNA, researchers take a cell's messenger RNA and, with the help of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, replicate the sequence with DNA's building blocks.
—Lisa Raffensperger, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2013
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
For example, Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) associated with nephrotoxicity.
—Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2025
Mice engineered to lack key immune genes didn’t show such a dramatic ramp up in red blood cells during pregnancy, and nor did animals treated with drugs known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which block the enzyme retrotransposons use to copy and paste themselves.
—Bycatherine Offord, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024
The medications target a unique enzyme in HIV called reverse transcriptase, which then prevents the virus from replicating and infecting cells in the body, Alan explains.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 9 Dec. 2021
The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
—Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 6 May 2021
Viral Detection To determine whether a nasopharyngeal sample is positive for the coronavirus, biotechnicians use a technique known as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR.
—Jim Daley, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2020
At a lab, a technician performs a test often used for flu – a RT-PCR, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 24 Mar. 2020
To make cDNA, researchers take a cell's messenger RNA and, with the help of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, replicate the sequence with DNA's building blocks.
—Lisa Raffensperger, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2013
Cite this Entry
“Reverse transcriptase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20transcriptase. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share