Gene chip technology

Gene chip technology, also known as microarray technology, is a high-throughput method used in molecular biology and genomics to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome.

History

The concept of gene chip technology was first introduced in the late 1980s by Stephen P.A. Fodor and his team at Affymetrix. The technology has since evolved and is now widely used in biological and medical research.

Technology

Gene chip technology involves the use of a small, solid support, usually a glass slide, onto which the sequences from thousands of different genes are immobilized at fixed locations. The gene chips are then used for applications such as gene expression profiling, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection, and resequencing mutant genomes.

Gene Expression Profiling

In gene expression profiling, gene chips are used to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes within a genome at a given time. This is achieved by hybridizing the gene chip with a sample containing RNA molecules, which are then detected and quantified to provide an overall picture of gene expression within the sample.

SNP Detection

Gene chips can also be used for SNP detection. In this application, the gene chip is hybridized with DNA from the sample, and the hybridization pattern is used to identify SNPs within the genome.

Resequencing Mutant Genomes

In resequencing mutant genomes, gene chips are used to identify and sequence mutations within a genome. This is achieved by hybridizing the gene chip with DNA from the mutant genome, and then sequencing the hybridized DNA.

Applications

Gene chip technology has a wide range of applications in fields such as drug discovery, disease diagnosis, genetic research, and agricultural biotechnology. It is also used in the study of gene regulation and genomics.

See Also

• DNA microarray
• Genomics
• Molecular biology
• Gene expression profiling
• SNP detection