It is not hard to imagine that physiologists and biochemists will be in greater demand to collaborate on structural biology projects, just as microarrays and genomics applications have become common in population studies.
Although microarray technology and its applications have evolved considerably over the years to meet a growing range of genomic challenges [ 1], the classical format for microarrays in interrogating the transcriptome (that is, expression microarrays) has been a key technology for discovery in functional and medical genomics.
However, despite the promise of microarrays as versatile biodetection platforms, most applications of microarray have been limited to genome-scale gene expression analysis, such as a preliminary screening method to investigate relative expression level of target genes or gene ontology analysis based on the accumulated amount of various genome data and their functional annotation information [ 8].
This is due to the fact that microarray application in miRNome research has several limitations, including hybridization and cross-hybridization artifacts, dye-based detection issues and design constraints that preclude or seriously limit the detection of newly discovered miRNAs or previously unmapped, novel miRNAs [ 44].
Spotted microarrays may use HPLC- or gel electrophoresis-purified oligonucleotides to reach a sequence purity greater than ∼85%, although the value for this level of purity has not been established for aptamer applications or for traditional microarray applications.
The variety of microarray applications allows for multiple, creative microarray designs and detection strategies.
Target concentration is the principal unknown quantity in microarray applications.
Following this, the samples are ready to be directly hybridized onto the chips". The ArrayPLEX application has met the performance standards to be designated an Affymetrix Premier Application late last year, and has also proven suitable for use with Agilent and even 'homebrew' microarrays.
Several meta-analysis applications for microarrays have been proposed [ 16- 18].
In addition, this study demonstrates that genome sequence comparison and DNA microarray analysis have a powerful application in epidemiologic and taxonomic studies, as well as in the food safety and biodefense fields.
