Technological platforms for microarray gene expression profiling.

By using gene microarray technology, scientists can determine in a single experiment, the expression levels of thousands of genes within a given sample. DNA microarray technology is evolving rapidly and there are now numerous high-density platforms available which differ in terms of probe content, design, deposition technology, labeling and hybridization protocols. However, two major platforms for high-density microarray manufacture are in common use. The first utilizes robotic deposition or "spotting" of DNA molecules, while the second uses short oligonucleotides synthesized in situ.