Structure Function of GeneChip Microarrays（GeneChip微阵列的结构功能）.pdfVIP

GeneChip® Microarrays Structure Function of GeneChip Microarrays Part I – Introduction and GeneChip Expression Microarrays The Human Genome Project revealed much about our genetic sequence and discovered everyone’s DNA to be 99.9% identical. However, even very small differences in DNA sequence can generate very big differences in gene expression, often having important biological implications. The same gene may be highly expressed in one person, but minimally or not expressed in another. This difference may be due to a small mutation or the influence of the environment that the organism lives in. For example, a person may begin to make more dark pigment in their skin by expressing the melanin gene due to an increase exposure to the sun. Every cell in our body contains the same DNA sequence. This is because each cell in the body of a multicellular organism came from the division of the original single cell that came from the fertilization of the reproductive cells from the parents. Despite this, every gene is not expressed in every cell. Some important genes such as those needed to extract energy from food molecules are active in all cells. While those genes producing a protein that protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays will only be expressed in skin cells. Gene expression microarrays are powerful tools that help scientists study cellular genetics in a way never imagined before. Researchers study gene expression by measuring the amount of RNA copies a gene produces. When a gene is expressed it produces RNA which will help with the production of the final protein coded for by the gene. The gene expression microarray is a tool that tells them how much RNA a gene is making, if it’s making any at all. An active gene producing a lot of RNA must be important for that specific cell type. Studying gene expression can help with understanding of cell function