title: A new way to introduce microarray technology in a lecture/laboratory setting by studying the evolution of this modern technology.
abstract: DNA microarray is an ordered grid containing known sequences of DNA, which represent many of the genes in a particular organism. Each DNA sequence is unique to a specific gene. This technology enables the researcher to screen many genes from cells or tissue grown in different conditions. We developed an undergraduate lecture and laboratory exercise using an interdisciplinary approach to the study of microarray technology. What made this approach unique was studying the evolution of the technology leading up to the formation of the MicroArray Quality Control Project (MAQC). Students realized that this technique has potential of saving lives, making it absolutely necessary to validate all results. Students were then able to complete their own microarray project, evaluate their results and continue to analyze a gene from the study, by further utilizing basic bioinformatic tools as well as critiquing primary journal articles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866. rowlandg@chapman.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rowland-Goldsmith