The DNA deluge
D. A. Rew, Consultant Surgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer Southampton University Hospitals
Southampton SO14 0YG, UK
The past few years have seen a quantum leap in DNA assay technologies.1 DNA microarray instruments allow the measurement of the presence and relative abundance of many hundreds or thousands of preselected genes or engineered nucleotide sequences from biological and clinicopathological samples. The studies are conducted using computerised, fluorescence based assays on nanoscopic quantities of DNA or RNA on glass slides or nylon membranes. They generate huge volumes of qualitative and semiquantitative data in colourful, graphical format with relatively little technical or intellectual effort. The mass of data challenges the limits of human computation and attention.
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