Individuals can be screened for genetic diseases and cancers by using cDNA and microarrays
- This technology can also be used to investigate the protein expression pathways that lead to these conditions
cDNA
- Complementary DNA (cDNA) is a molecule synthesised from an mRNA template via reverse transcription
- cDNA molecules represent gene sequences that are actively transcribed by a cell (as they were synthesised from mRNA)
- This makes them a valuable tool for determining expression patterns of proteins in normal and diseased states
Microarray
- A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA sequences (oligos) attached to a solid surface
- These sequences represent fractions of a large library of genes that are present in a cell
- If a gene is active within a cell, then the cDNA (produced from the mRNA transcript) will bind to its complementary oligo
- If the cDNA has been fluorescently labeled, then the complementary oligo can be identified (along with the gene it represents)
- If cDNA from healthy and diseased cells are labeled with different fluorophores, comparisons of gene expression can be made
- Genes that are only active in a diseased or normal state will be of particular interest to scientists
DNA Microarray Overview
