Genomics, gene expression and DNA arrays

Experimental genomics in combination with the growing body of sequence info rmation promise to revolutionize the way cells and cellular processes are s tudied. Information on genomic sequence can be used experimentally with hig h-density DNA arrays that allow complex mixtures of RNA and DNA to be inter rogated in a parallel and quantitative fashion. DNA arrays can be used for many different purposes, most prominently to measure levels of gene express ion (messenger RNA abundance) for tens of thousands of genes simultaneously . Measurements of gene expression and other applications of arrays embody m uch of what is implied by the term 'genomics'; they are broad in scope, lar ge in scale, and take advantage of all available sequence information for e xperimental design and data interpretation in pursuit of biological underst anding.