Introduction: Microarray technologies
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology
Within recent years, complete genomes of more than 800 species including the human genome have been sequenced. In order to fully benefit from the generated information, highly parallelized and miniaturized methods have been developed, including microarrays representing one of the key technologies.
What is a microarray?
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- Automated printing of microarrays.
The basic principle of microarrays or biochips is rather simple: DNA or protein molecules are fixed in an ordered fashion onto a solid support. Then, complex samples are isolated from cells or tissues of interest, labeled and investigated using such a biochip. Biochips enable the researcher to look at thousands of genes or proteins in parallel in a single experiment. The individual DNA or protein probes act as sensors to gain information about transcription, expression or mutations of the respective gene.
Application areas
In order to understand the complex, functional correlations in organisms or tissues, comprehensive analysis of cellular processes is essential. Only a parallel analysis of the factors concerned permits an overall perspective of regulatory activities. Often microarrays are synonymous to such investigations and frequently provide a suitable platform. In many areas of biotechnological-medical research and development, biochip technology is regarded as a key technology, ensuring the cost efficiency required. The technology is also gaining increasing significance as a "diagnostic of the future".
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