title: BioMEMS using electrophoresis for the analysis of genetic mutations.
abstract: Biomedical microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS) are rapidly emerging in many areas of genetic analysis. These devices demonstrate potential for rapid analysis using modular components capable of sample purification, amplification, mutation discrimination and detection on small, portable point-of-care instruments. Here, various approaches to genetic mutation detection and the modern analysis platform, capillary electrophoresis, will be briefly reviewed. Microfluidic devices will be discussed in relation to fabrication techniques, mutation detection using simple electrophoretic separations, multiplexed designs and modular functionalities, as well as challenges and issues surrounding this technology.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8362, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. gloria.thomas@nist.gov
authors.forename: Gloria A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Hannah D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Farquar
authors.forename: Shelby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Soper
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends