DNA microarrays: Recent Advances

Abstract

The present work shows a bibliographical compilation about DNA microarray technology. First, a brief summary is presented with the most important historical aspects that gave rise to this technology in the field of biotechnological research, until it became one of the most significant tools in the field of medical diagnosis. The concept of DNA microarray is clearly defined and an important emphasis is made on the main variants within this technology: Oligonucleotide microarray and cDNA microarray. Subsequently, the major differences between the two DNA microarray classes are mentioned to culminate showing the advantages and disadvantages that each one has when it is time of a gene expression analysis. Furthermore, some applications that this technology offers in the biological-clinical field are cited. Finally, this work indicates the latest technological advances in data analysis from a bioinformatic approach and a pithy explanation is made about the use and operation of microarray databases.