Mikroarraytutkimuksia

Mikroarraytutkimuksia, known in English as microarray studies, are a powerful molecular biology technique used to simultaneously measure the expression levels of thousands of genes or other biological molecules. These studies rely on microarrays, which are solid surfaces, typically glass slides or silicon chips, onto which thousands of microscopic spots of DNA or other probes are immobilized in a predetermined order. Each spot contains a known sequence that can bind to a specific target molecule.

The process begins by isolating RNA from cells or tissues of interest. This RNA is then converted into complementary DNA (cDNA) and labeled with a fluorescent dye. This labeled cDNA is then hybridized to the microarray. If a particular cDNA sequence in the sample matches a probe on the array, it will bind to it, creating a fluorescent signal at that spot. The intensity of the fluorescence is proportional to the abundance of the corresponding gene's expression in the sample. By analyzing the pattern and intensity of the fluorescent signals across the entire array, researchers can determine which genes are activated or deactivated under specific conditions, compare gene expression profiles between different samples, or identify genetic variations. Mikroarraytutkimuksia are widely used in fields such as cancer research, drug discovery, and diagnostics to understand complex biological processes and identify potential biomarkers.