Methylation Array
A methylation array is a high-throughput genomic tool used to measure DNA methylation levels at specific sites across the genome, typically using microarray technology. It enables researchers to analyze epigenetic modifications by detecting methylated cytosine residues, often in CpG islands, providing insights into gene regulation, disease mechanisms, and environmental influences. This technology is widely applied in fields like cancer research, developmental biology, and epidemiology for large-scale epigenetic profiling.
Developers should learn about methylation arrays when working in bioinformatics, computational biology, or data science roles involving epigenetic data analysis, as it's essential for processing and interpreting DNA methylation datasets from platforms like Illumina's Infinium arrays. It's particularly valuable for developing pipelines for quality control, normalization, and differential methylation analysis in studies of diseases such as cancer or aging. Use cases include building tools for epigenetic biomarker discovery, integrating methylation data with other omics data, or creating visualization dashboards for research applications.