What is the DNA Reverse Complement?
Compute the reverse complement of a DNA or RNA sequence instantly in your browser. Paste raw bases or FASTA text — A pairs with T (or U in RNA), G with C. Also get complement-only or reverse-only output, sequence length, base counts, and GC content. Private, free, and no signup.
How to use the DNA Reverse Complement
- Choose DNA or RNA sequence type.
- Select reverse complement, complement only, or reverse only.
- Paste your sequence (whitespace is ignored; FASTA headers are stripped).
- Copy the output or full summary for primers, cloning, or homework.
- Check GC content and base composition in the results panel.
Common use cases
- Designing PCR primers from a template strand
- Finding the opposite strand for restriction mapping
- Quickly checking complement/reverse operations in bioinformatics coursework
Frequently asked questions
- What is a reverse complement?
- For each base, take its Watson–Crick pair (A↔T, G↔C), then read the resulting sequence from end to start. The reverse complement of 5′-ATGC-3′ is 5′-GCAT-3′ on the opposite strand.
- Does it support FASTA format?
- Yes. Lines starting with > are treated as headers and removed before processing.
- Can I use RNA sequences?
- Yes. In RNA mode, A pairs with U and G with C. T in input is treated as U for compatibility.
- Is my sequence uploaded anywhere?
- No. All processing runs locally in your browser; sequences never leave your device.
- What is GC content?
- GC content is the percentage of guanine and cytosine bases in the sequence. It affects DNA melting temperature and primer design.
