What is Microarray?
Even though all of the cells in the human body has identical genetic material, it does not necessary mean that the same genes are active in every cell. Therefore, it is important to study whether genes are active or inactive in different cell types to understand function of these cells and discover cures fore diseases.
Microarray is a technique to measure the large number of gene expression levels simultaneously. Microarray technology helps researchers to learn more about many different diseases, including heart disease, mental illness and infectious diseases.
Microarray is a technique to measure the large number of gene expression levels simultaneously. Microarray technology helps researchers to learn more about many different diseases, including heart disease, mental illness and infectious diseases.
DNA microarray Processes
Figure 1. Processes of DNA microarray
To perform DNA microarray in order to determine whether genes are turned on or turned off in our desired cell, the messenger RNA molecule present in the cell should be collected first. Then each mRNA molecule is labeled by using a reverse transcriptase enzyme (RT) that generates a complementary cDNA to the mRNA. While this process, fluorescent nucleotides are attracted to the cDNA. In this case, the tumor and the normal samples would be labeled with different fluorescent dyes. The labeled cDNAs are placed onto a DNA microarray slide. If the gene is active, there would be fluorescence. If the gene is inactive, there would be no fluorescence.
Microarray Data
Human (Homo sapiens) BMPR2 - Pulmonary arterial hypertension & PBMC
Figure 2. Human BMPR2 - Pulmonary arterial hypertension & PBMC
Analysis
GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) is used to get BMPR2 microarray data. Figure 2 shows human (Homo sapiens) BMPR2 gene expression in Pulmonary arterial hypertension and PBMC. I could not get data that i expected, but there was one case, showing lower level of gene expression that others. Microarray also was used for my semester project.
References
- DNA microarray. (2014, November 5).Wikipedia. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_microarray
- DNA Microarray Technology. (n.d.). DNA Microarray Technology. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.genome.gov/10000533
- BMPR2 PROFILE GRAPH. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/tools/profileGraph.cgi?ID=GDS504%3AZ48923_at
- Getting Started. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/