Microarray

Definition

A microarray is a laboratory tool used to detect the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. It consists of a small surface onto which DNA molecules are fixed in a grid-like pattern.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Microarrays can be used to compare gene expression between different cell types or conditions.
2. Fluorescent labeling is commonly used in microarray experiments to visualize hybridization results.
3. Microarrays play a crucial role in identifying potential drug targets by analyzing gene expression profiles.
4. They are essential for studying genetic variations and mutations at the genome-wide level.
5. Data from microarray experiments require complex bioinformatics tools for analysis and interpretation.

Review Questions

• What is the primary function of a microarray in genetic studies?
• How do fluorescent labels facilitate the detection process in microarray experiments?
• Why are bioinformatics tools necessary when working with data from microarray experiments?

Related terms

Gene Expression Profiling: A technique used to measure the activity (expression) of thousands of genes at once to create a global picture of cellular function.

Hybridization: The process by which single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules anneal to complementary nucleic acid strands.

Bioinformatics: An interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, particularly when the data sets are large and complex.