Microarray Analysis

Question 0

Why are microarrays used?

Answer 0

To detect and identify various pathogens.
Strain typing.
Antimicrobial resistance monitoring.

Question 1

What are microarrays?

Answer 1

A set of DNA sequences representing the entire set of genes of an organism, arranged in a grid pattern for use in genetic testing.
Green=genes who’s expression is reduced
Red=genes who’s expression increases after stimulation

Question 2

What are the benefits of molecular diagnostics?

Answer 2

Can create new cancer screening tools
Can inform design of new treatments
Can monitor treatments effectiveness
Can predict patients response to treatment.

Question 3

What is molecular diagnostics?

Answer 3

A technique used to analyse biological markers in the genome and proteome.

Question 4

What can DNA microarrays detect?

Answer 4

Chromosomal abnormalities within Down's syndrome (chromosome 21)
Turner syndrome (XO)
Klinefelter syndrome (XXY).

Question 5

What are the steps for setting up a microarray?

Answer 5

1) RNA isolation
2) cDNA generation
3) labelling of probe
4) hybridisation to array
5) imaging

Question 6

What is fluorescence in situ hybridisation?

Answer 6

A lab technique for detecting and locating a specific DNA sequence on a chromosome. The technique relies on exposing chromosomes to a small DNA sequence called a probe that has a fluorescent molecule attached to it.

Question 7

What are polymorphic changes?

Answer 7

SNPs are genetic variations occurring at a frequency of about one in every 1,000 bases in the genome. The SNPs can exhibit an individuals susceptibility to a particular disease. Recently, much effort has been made to find disease-relevant markers using an SNP microarray, so called multi-SNP markers.