The affymetrix GeneChip platform: an overview.

The intent of this chapter is to provide the reader with a review of GeneChip technology and the complete system it represents, including its versatility, components, and the exciting applications that are enabled by this platform. The following aspects of the technology are reviewed: array design and manufacturing, target preparation, instrumentation, data analysis, and both current and future applications. There are key differentiators between Affymetrix' GeneChip technology and other microarray-based methods.

Monitoring eukaryotic gene expression using oligonucleotide microarrays.

An increasing number of biological and medical research questions depend on obtaining global views of gene expression. In this chapter, we will describe how oligonucleotide microarrays have been used to accomplish this goal. In particular, we will focus on the use of GeneChip arrays, which provide high levels of reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity.

Microarrays in pharmacogenomics--advances and future promise.

With their ability to provide global views of genome sequence and gene activity, microarrays have emerged as key analytical tools in the field of pharmacogenomics. Vast amounts of data must be collected and analyzed to meet pharmacogenomics' ambitious goals, ranging from identifying markers that predict individuals' responses to therapy to discovering new drug targets. Microarrays will be instrumental to these efforts because they provide bountiful sources of gene expression and genotypic data.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and their characterization with oligonucleotide microarrays.

Small variations in human DNA sequences influence our predisposition to disease and our response to medications. Many psychiatric diseases appear to be polygenic. Because our molecular understanding of the genetic etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders is very limited, the discovery and characterization of these variations is crucial in identifying disease genes.

Microarrays and genetic epidemiology: a multipurpose tool for a multifaceted field.

The advent of molecular technologies that allow the collection and analysis of large amounts of genetic data is rapidly transforming the field of genetic epidemiology. Whether monitoring infectious outbreaks or identifying genotypic variations that underlie disease susceptibility, genetic epidemiology relies heavily on the analysis of multiple, independently derived results. By allowing the simultaneous monitoring of thousands of genetic or expression data points, microarrays are emerging as particularly powerful tools.