DNA microarray

DNA Microarray

DNA microarray (pronunciation: /diː.ɛn.eɪ/ /ˌmaɪ.kroʊ.əˈreɪ/), also known as gene chip, DNA chip, or biochip, is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome.

Etymology

The term "microarray" is derived from "micro", meaning small, and "array", meaning an orderly arrangement. The "DNA" part of the term refers to Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living organisms and many viruses.

History

The DNA microarray technology was developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The first commercial DNA microarrays were made available in the mid-1990s.

Function

Each DNA spot contains picomoles (10−12 moles) of a specific DNA sequence, known as probes. These can be a short section of a gene or other DNA element that are used to hybridize a cDNA or cRNA sample (called target) under high-stringency conditions. Probe-target hybridization is usually detected and quantified by detection of fluorophore-, silver-, or chemiluminescence-labeled targets to determine relative abundance of nucleic acid sequences in the target.

Applications

DNA microarrays are used in various applications, including genotyping, mutation analysis, gene expression profiling, identification of copy number variations, and metagenomics studies.

Related Terms

• Gene expression
• Genome
• cDNA
• cRNA
• Metagenomics
• Probes
• Target

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on DNA microarray
• Wikipedia's article - DNA microarray

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