What technique allows for the generation of cDNA from RNA?

The generation of complementary DNA (cDNA) from RNA is accomplished through the process known as reverse transcription. This technique involves using the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes cDNA from an RNA template. During reverse transcription, the RNA strand serves as a guide for the synthesis of the complementary DNA strand. This is a critical step in various molecular biology applications, such as cloning, gene expression analysis, and the study of RNA molecules.

Transcription refers to the process in which DNA is used to synthesize RNA, while translation is the process of converting RNA into a protein. Replication, on the other hand, pertains to the duplication of DNA. All of these processes are essential for genetic expression and function, but they do not result in the direct synthesis of cDNA from RNA, making reverse transcription the specific technique required for this conversion.