DNA microarray [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== DNA microarray ======


A DNA [[microarray]] (also commonly known as 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 [[gene]]s simultaneously or to [[genotype]] multiple regions of a [[genome]]. Each DNA spot contains picomoles (10−12 moles) of a specific [[DNA sequence]], known as probes (or reporters or oligos). These can be a short section of a gene or other DNA element that are used to hybridize a [[cDNA]] or [[cRNA]] (also called anti-sense RNA) 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. The original nucleic acid arrays were macro arrays approximately 9 cm × 12 cm and the first computerized image based analysis was published in 1981.