DNA-microarrays: novel techniques to study aging and guide gerontologic medicine

DNA array technology is a high throughput application of nucleic acid hybri dization. Arrays currently used include spotted cDNA arrays at various dens ities and oligonucleotide arrays, where the highest densities can be obtain ed by synthesizing oligonucleotides directly on the solid support. While cD NA arrays can only determine the presence of a specific sequence in a sampl e, oligonucleotide arrays additionally allow detection of mutations and pol ymorphisms, including single nucleotide polymorphisms. Microarray technolog y can be expected to further our understanding of the aging process and to soon influence medical decision-making in age-related diseases, as well as Lifestyle decisions of consequence to the aging process. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.