Microarray

/ˈmaɪkroʊəˌreɪ/ noun

Definition

A laboratory tool used in genetics to detect the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously by arranging DNA sequences in a grid pattern on a solid surface.

Etymology

Coined in the 1990s from Greek 'mikros' (small) and 'array' (ordered arrangement). The term reflects the miniaturization of genetic analysis technology onto chip-sized platforms.

Kelly Says

This technology revolutionized genetics by putting an entire genome's worth of tests onto something smaller than a postage stamp - it's like having a library's worth of books condensed into a single page.

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