An introduction to DNA chips: principles, technology, applications and analysis

This review describes the recently developed GeneChip technology that provi des efficient access to genetic information using miniaturised, high-densit y arrays of DNA or oligonucleotide probes. Such microarrays are powerful to ols to study the molecular basis of interactions on a scale that would lie impossible using conventional analysis. The recent development of the micro array technology has greatly accelerated the investigation of gene regulati on. Arrays are mostly used to identify which genes are turned on or off in a cell or tissue, and also, to evaluate the extent of a gene's expression u nder various conditions. Indeed, this technology has been successfully appl ied to investigate simultaneous expression of many thousands of genes and t o the detection of mutations or polymorphisms, as well as for their mapping and sequencing.