Microarray Technology
Microarray technology is a high-throughput molecular biology tool used to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously or to detect genetic variations. It involves immobilizing DNA, RNA, or protein samples on a solid surface (like a glass slide or silicon chip) and using fluorescent labeling to analyze interactions with target molecules. This enables researchers to study gene expression patterns, identify mutations, and profile biological samples on a genomic scale.
Developers should learn microarray technology when working in bioinformatics, computational biology, or genomics research, as it's essential for analyzing large-scale genetic data. It's particularly valuable for applications like cancer research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine, where identifying gene expression signatures or genetic markers is critical. Knowledge of microarray data processing (e.g., using R or Python libraries) helps in developing algorithms for normalization, statistical analysis, and visualization of genomic datasets.