Biochip - Reflexions

Biochip

The biochip or DNA chip is a group of DNA molecules attached to something (like a piece of glass). These molecules are called probes. Thousands of probes can be attached to one chip. They help verify whether or not certain genes (for example those responsible for a disease) are expressed (that is, translated into proteins) in the cells of some tissue (for example a liver). If the patient is suffering from a disease, pieces of RNA (retranscribed as complementary DNA) from the patient will pair up with pieces of synthetic DNA representing the disease, fixed to the piece of glass.