Gene chip

An array of probes of nucleic acid on a chip for rapid assays of genetic variation, and mutated DNA sequences in an organism. Gene chips may allow for the diagnosis of all the genes of a genome in one test; analysis is done by computer technology. A DNA microarray (also commonly known as gene chip, DNA chip, or biochip) is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface, such as glass, plastic or silicon chip forming an array for the purpose of monitoring of expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously. The affixed DNA segments are known as probes (although some sources will use different nomenclature), thousands of which can be used in a single DNA microarray. Microarray technology evolved from Southern blotting, where fragmented DNA is attached to a substrate and then probed with a known gene or fragment. Measuring gene expression using microarrays is relevant to many areas of biology and medicine, such as studying treatments, disease, and developmental stages. An array of probes of nucleic acid on a chip for rapid assays of genetic variation, and mutated DNA sequences in an organism. Gene chips may allow for the diagnosis of all the genes of a genome in one test; analysis is done by computer technology. A DNA microarray (also commonly known as gene chip, DNA chip, or biochip) is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface, such as glass, plastic or silicon chip forming an array for the purpose of monitoring of expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously. The affixed DNA segments are known as probes (although some sources will use different nomenclature), thousands of which can be used in a single DNA microarray. Microarray technology evolved from Southern blotting, where fragmented DNA is attached to a substrate and then probed with a known gene or fragment. Measuring gene expression using microarrays is relevant to many areas of biology and medicine, such as studying treatments, disease, and developmental stages.