DNA microarray: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:50, 1 July 2003

Revision as of 02:54, 1 July 2003

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Typically arrays are used to detect the presence of different [[mRNA]]s in an extract from a sample of cells from a single tissue. If mRNA binds to the spot on an array to which a specific probe sequence has been affixed, that implies that the cells are actively [[transcription|transcribing]] a gene with a sequence complementary to that probe (see "anti-sense" under [[DNA]]).

Researchers usually employ microarrays in a comparison between two samples. For example, an RNA sample from [[brain tumor]] cells, might be compared to a sample from healthy [[neuron]]s or [[glia]]. Probes that bind RNA in the tumor sample but not in the healthy one indicate genes that are uniquely associated with the disease. Such identifications can lead to candidate[[protein]]s targetsthat formight be effectively targeted by drugs.

Since there are hundreds of thousands of probes on a gene chip, using a gene chip can be the equivalent of thousands of conventional genetic tests. Gene chips have therefore dramatically accelerated the pace of genetic research.