Importance+of+Microarrays

A. **__Size and Capacity__** 1. Holds a very large number of genes a. Can allow scientists to survey a large number of genes quickly with small samples b. Can examine hundreds of thousands of genes at once c. Used to study gene expression in single cells or even two different cells or tissue samples i. Ex. Healthy cells vs. diseased cells. 2. Small in size B. __**In the Near Future**__ 1. Probable functions of new genes based on similarities in expression patterns to those of known genes 2. Promises to expand the size of the existing gene families, reveal new patterns of coordinating gene expression across families, and uncover completely new gene families. 3. Help identify the genes involved in viral development by allowing the study of viral genome with a much larger number of genes 4. Will also aid in examining the integration of gene expressions and function at cellular level. a. How different genes work together b. Multiple genes working to create one physical and chemical responses to cellular needs. ==== The use of studying a healthy cell to a non-healthy cell with a microarray is great. The two cells can be studied at the same time to see which genes are being expressed in both cells and which genes are expressed in one and not the other. This could potentially lead to the creation of better drug therapy and possibly the cure to cancer. DNA chips can also be used to classify different types of Leukemia.====