DNA Chip Technology

DNA Chip technology has got a wide attention from various biologists recently. This is due to the fact that this technology has the capability to become the most powerful technology developed by humans in the medical field. This can save life of many and can prevent the spread of many diseases that stand untreatable today. Looking at the past of this technology, it is assured that this technology is not going to fade away soon and will be a matter of interest and research in near future at least.

Few years ago, DNA chips took to another level, by synthesizing double stranded DNA arrays accessible to proteins. Their system could allow the systematic study of DNA-proteins interaction, transforming the analysis of eukaryotic transcription control. In the approach, Church and colleagues displayed longer single-stranded oligonucleotide (up to 40 mers) immobilized onto the surface. To these, they hybridized 16 mers priming oligonucleotide, extending their primers with Klenow fragments, thereby converting the immobilized DNA into a double stranded form that would be accessible to study the DNA-binding protein.

The DNA Chip technology has tremendous applications. The differences of gene expression in cancer versus normal cell line can be viewed
by the DNA Chip. Oligonucleotide array have been used to measure the expression level of bacterial genes. An array of 65,000 oligonucleotide probes was constructed for detection of 100 Sleplococcus pneumoniae genes. They are also used to study the gene expression levels in inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD). Probes were prepared from RA tissue of IBD mucosa labeled with Cyt3 or Cyt5 fluors and exposed to microrrary consisting of cDNA targets from genes known to be involved in the disease process.

DNA Chip technology can also be used to screen individuals for mutations in the breast cancer gene BARC-J. By this technology, the mutation of p53 gene can also be detected which is responsible for lung cancer in human.

The cost of this technology at present is within the realms only on drug companies and large institutions. At present individual researchers have to rely on gaining access to chip via research institution such as the National Institute of Health and Howard Higher Institute in the United States, who are among the front runners in this technology. However, as with developments in PCR technology, it will undoubtedly become much more accessible and affordable in time to come.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_microarray