DNA microarray technology allows scientists to study thousands of genes simultaneously, aiding research into conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and obesity. A DNA microarray consists of a slide with DNA molecules arranged in a specific sequence, allowing scientists to measure gene activity by binding fluorescent dye to mRNA. The brightness of the dye indicates gene activity, aiding diagnosis of diseases caused by overexpressed genes.
DNA microarray technology is used in genetic and medical research to allow scientists to study the activity of several thousand genes simultaneously, as well as the relationship between them. In the past, scientists were only able to analyze a few genes at once. With the introduction of DNA microarray technology, the activity of thousands of genes can be monitored simultaneously. Some of the health conditions that scientists use this technology to research gene activity include heart disease, cancer, and obesity. It also allows scientists to classify tumors based on their origin and the pattern of gene activity in the cancer cell.
A DNA microarray consists of a postage stamp-sized slide that contains molecules known as DNA, the genetic code of an organism or one of its parts. The DNA is placed on the slide in a specific sequence and in a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines by a robotic machine. The specific sequence and spacing of the DNA allows scientists to know the sequence of the gene or genes used.
Before a scientist is able to measure the activity of a gene on a slide, a sample of tissue, usually blood, must be collected from a patient. The tissue sample is placed in a solution and allows for the collection of mRNA, a product of an expressed gene that carries information from a nucleus to other parts of a cell to make proteins. mRNA is complementary to the DNA strand from which it was copied.
Once the mRNA has been collected, a scientist will bind a fluorescent dye to the mRNA and it will be placed onto the slide by a robotic machine. mRNA that is complementary to DNA will bind to its complement. Since the DNA sequence that was placed on the slide is known, the mRNA that binds to the DNA indicates the specific DNA sequence that is expressed in the cell.
To visualize the genes, a scanner will measure the fluorescent areas of the DNA microarray. The brightness of the fluorescent dye shows the activity of a gene and the absence of fluorescent dye indicates that a gene is inactive. Therefore, the brighter the fluorescent dye, the more active the gene. The lighter the fluorescent dye, the less active the gene.
Knowing the activity of a gene can help determine whether an overexpressed gene can cause a specific disease. In a clinical setting, if overexpression of a gene has already been determined to cause a specific disease, a tissue sample can be taken from a patient and a scientist can use DNA microarray technology to measure the expression of the targeted gene to help determine whether a specific gene might be causing the disease the patient has. DNA microarray is a powerful way to determine which genes are involved in causing a specific disease.
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