Biochip

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Biochip

A Biochip (pronounced: /ˈbaɪoʊˌtʃɪp/) is a miniaturized device, embedded with thousands of microscopic biosensors, that can perform thousands of simultaneous biochemical reactions. Biochips are used in a variety of applications, including disease diagnosis, drug discovery, genomics, and proteomics.

Etymology

The term "Biochip" is a portmanteau of "biological" and "chip", referring to the integration of biological elements with electronic components. The term was first used in the late 1980s, coinciding with the development of microarray technology.

Types of Biochips

There are several types of biochips, each designed for specific applications:

  • DNA Microarrays: These biochips contain thousands of microscopic spots of DNA, each representing a different gene. They are used to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously.
  • Protein Microarrays: These biochips contain thousands of different proteins immobilized on a solid surface. They are used to study protein-protein interactions and to identify potential drug targets.
  • Lab-on-a-chip: These biochips integrate one or several laboratory functions on a single chip, allowing for high-throughput screening and diagnostics.

Related Terms

  • Microarray: A high-throughput technology used to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously.
  • Biosensor: A device that uses a living organism or biological molecules to detect the presence of chemicals.
  • Genomics: The study of the complete set of genes (the genome) in an organism.
  • Proteomics: The large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski