DNA microarrays in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to review the technologies underlying DNA microarrays and to explore their use in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.


METHODS
The current literature relating to microarray technology and methodology is reviewed, specifically the use of DNA microarrays to characterize gene expression. Bioinformatics involves computational and statistical methods to extract, organize, and analyze the huge amounts of data produced by microarray experiments. The means by which these techniques are being applied to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery are outlined.


RESULTS
Microarray technologies are having a substantial impact on biomedical research, including many areas relevant to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA microarrays allow for the simultaneous investigation of thousands of individual genes in a single experiment. In the coming years, the application of these technologies to clinical medicine should allow for unprecedented methods of diagnosis and treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These highly parallel experimental techniques promise to revolutionize gene discovery, disease characterization, and drug development.
Whipple
Mark Eliot
ME
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-6515, USA. mwhipple@u.washington.edu
Kuo
Winston Patrick
WP
D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008492:Medical Informatics Computing; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010641:Phenotype; D012106:Research; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical