DNAmikromatriisit

DNAmikromatriisit, also known as DNA microarrays or DNA chips, are laboratory tools used to detect and quantify the presence of specific DNA sequences. They consist of a solid surface, typically a glass slide or a silicon chip, onto which thousands of tiny spots of known DNA fragments, called probes, are attached in a precise arrangement. These probes are designed to bind to complementary DNA sequences.

The process begins with a sample of DNA, often extracted from cells or tissues, which is labeled with a fluorescent dye. This labeled DNA, called the target, is then introduced to the mikromatriisi. If any of the target DNA sequences are complementary to the probes on the chip, they will hybridize, or bind, to those specific locations. After washing away any unbound target DNA, the mikromatriisi is scanned with a laser. The fluorescent signal detected at each spot indicates the presence and relative abundance of the corresponding DNA sequence in the sample.

DNAmikromatriisit have a wide range of applications in biological research and medicine. They are used for gene expression profiling to understand which genes are active in different cells or under various conditions. They are also employed in genotyping, identifying genetic variations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which can be associated with diseases or drug responses. Furthermore, DNAmikromatriisit are valuable tools for diagnosing infectious diseases by detecting the presence of pathogen DNA and for cancer research, helping to identify genetic mutations that drive tumor growth.