StudiesThe Tools & Techniques of Drug Discovery: DNA Microarrays DNA microarray technology is clearly at the leading edge of functional genomics. Driven by assay miniaturization, increasingly sophisticated software and the wealth of sequence information coming from the Human Genome Project, DNA microarrays are becoming increasingly popular. DNA microarrays enable researchers to simultaneously screen hundred or thousands of sequences, effectively combining hundreds or thousands of "test tube experiments" into one. More than 150 members of The Science Advisory Board who employ DNA microarrays in their drug discovery research took part in a study sponsored by the Board to review this cutting-edge technology. A selection of interesting findings from the study is presented below. Over half of the respondents report that signal transduction proteins are the ultimate target of their DNA microarray research. Signalling proteins coordinate metabolism and other cellular processes in response to environmental stimuli. These proteins operate within networks of thousands of different regulatory proteins known as signal transduction networks. The networks link receptors for extracellular mediators at the cell surface to appropriate effector responses throughout the cell. For the most part, researchers are concentrating on monitoring the expression patterns of these proteins. Almost half of the respondents note that the most valuable improvement to the DNA microarray technology would be to have better quality control over the production of microarrays. "Not only do researchers expect consitency from spot-to-spot on a single microarray, they also expect it from microarray-to-microarray," asserts Dr. Tamara Zemlo, Director of Scientific & Medical Communications at The Science Advisory Board. The Science Advisory Board is an online panel of more than 12,100 scientists, physicians and other life science and medical professionals from 62 countries. By convening electronically, Science Advisory Board members participate in online studies to voice their opinions on issues that directly affect the evolution and development of new technologies and products. If you are interested in participating in studies on the tools and techniques of your profession, please register for our Research Panel at http://www.scienceboard.net/register, or contact Molly Scott, Membership Coordinator, for The Science Advisory Board at m.scott@scienceboard.net for membership information and study details. Your identity and personal information will be held in the strictest confidence, and you will receive compensation for any studies in which you choose to participate. [ View Current & Future Studies ] [ View Past Studies ] |
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