Microarray introduction
Mon, Oct 26, 2026 · Week 10 · Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)
Today's goal: Explain how a microarray uses hybridization to test many genes at once and where it differs from PCR.
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Hybridization in my words: A microarray is covered with single-stranded probe sequences. A labeled sample of DNA or cDNA washes over it, and each piece sticks (hybridizes) only where it finds its complementary probe. A bright, colored spot means that gene's sequence was present in the sample; a dark spot means it was not.
Method comparison: I compared PCR, gel, and microarray by what each is best for.
Microarray limit not shared by the others: A microarray needs specialized scanning equipment and bioinformatics software to read thousands of spots, while a PCR product or a gel can be set up and read with much simpler tools.
| Method | Best for | Output |
|---|---|---|
| PCR | Amplifying one target sequence | Many copies of one region |
| Gel | Separating fragments by size | Bands showing fragment sizes |
| Microarray | Surveying thousands of genes at once | Spot pattern showing expression |
This model shows the level of evidence and organization needed to complete: Completes the methods comparison: a three-row table contrasting PCR, gel, and microarray by purpose plus one sentence on a microarray limit the others do not share.
- Define the term in plain scientific language.
- Connect it to the current investigation.
- Use it accurately in a new example or contrast.
Keep the structure. Replace the question, facts, measurements, and evidence. Then recheck units, vocabulary, and whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
Also due today: Submit your comparison table to Schoology.
Turn in: Method comparison table
Go to Schoology to turn this in.
Submit one PDF. Put your first and last name in the document header. Name the file: FirstName LastName - Assignment Title - YYYY-MM-DD.pdf.
Open Schoology PDF upload helpIf you cannot get in, see Mr. Mendoza. Do not skip the work.
Claim ceiling: Today's evidence supports a classroom claim about microarray introduction. It cannot prove causation, diagnose a real patient, or justify action outside this room.
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.
It builds this reusable test skill: Choosing among PCR, gel, and microarray by their purpose.
- Name the concept or data pattern being tested.
- Cross out choices that violate that rule or the evidence.
- Justify the best remaining choice before checking the answer.