1. an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of RNA from a DNA template during transcription
Usage: biochemistry
2. an enzyme that synthesizes DNA from an RNA template, found especially in retroviruses
Usage: biochemistry

Examples

• RNA transcriptase is essential for gene expression in all living cells.
• The virus uses reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA genome into DNA.
• Scientists study transcriptase enzymes to understand how genetic information is copied.
• HIV relies on reverse transcriptase to integrate into the host cell's DNA.
• The transcriptase enzyme moves along the DNA strand during RNA synthesis.
• Researchers developed drugs that inhibit viral transcriptase activity.