DNA Microarrays: a Powerful Genomic Tool for Biomedical and Clinical Research

Abstract

Among the many benefits of the Human Genome Project are new and powerful tools such as the genome-wide hybridization devices referred to as microarrays. Initially designed to measure gene transcriptional levels, microarray technologies are now used for comparing other genome features among individuals and their tissues and cells. Results provide valuable information on disease subcategories, disease prognosis, and treatment outcome. Likewise, they reveal differences in genetic makeup, regulatory mechanisms, and subtle variations and move us closer to the era of personalized medicine. To understand this powerful tool, its versatility, and how dramatically it is changing the molecular approach to biomedical and clinical research, this review describes the technology, its applications, a didactic step-by-step review of a typical microarray protocol, and a real experiment. Finally, it calls the attention of the medical community to the importance of integrating multidisciplinary teams to take advantage of this technology and its expanding applications that, in a slide, reveals our genetic inheritance and destiny.

Cerebellin 4, a synaptic protein, enhances inhibitory activity and resistance of neurons to amyloid-β toxicity

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Multi-Omics Approach: New Potential Key Mechanisms Implicated in Cardiorenal Syndromes

“…The human genome comprehends 3.2 billion bases and 30,000–40,000 protein-coding genes. DNA microarrays provide a measurement of DNA sequence differences among individuals, and the expression of thousands of genes can be analyzed simultaneously [22, 23]. Transcriptomics examines genome RNA levels, both qualitatively (transcripts types, new splice sites, RNA editing sites) and quantitatively (the expressed quantity of each transcript).…”

Vascular effects of the Mediterranean diet—Part II: Role of omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil polyphenols

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