The term "oligonucleotide arrays" refers to a type of microarray used for genetic research. The phonetic transcription of this complex term can help shed light on its correct spelling. The word begins with the stressed syllable "oligo", pronounced /ɑləˈɡon/ in IPA notation. The following syllables are "nu" /nuˈklɪər/, "cleo" /ˈklɪoʊ/, "ti" /taɪd/ and "de" /deɪ/. The final syllable is unstressed and ends in the schwa sound /ə/. Therefore, the correct phonetic transcription of "oligonucleotide arrays" is /ɑləˈɡonuˌklɪərˈklɪotəldaɪə/
Oligonucleotide arrays, also known as DNA microarrays or gene chips, are a powerful tool used in genetic analysis and molecular biology research. These arrays consist of thousands to millions of short DNA fragments, known as oligonucleotides, that are immobilized onto a solid surface, typically a glass slide or a silicon chip.
The oligonucleotides on the array are designed to be complementary to specific DNA or RNA sequences of interest. By hybridizing labeled DNA or RNA samples to the array, researchers can measure the abundance of gene transcripts or detect specific DNA variants or mutations. Oligonucleotide arrays have applications in gene expression profiling, genotyping, comparative genomic hybridization, and more.
The design and manufacturing of oligonucleotide arrays require careful consideration of factors such as probe sequence specificity, length, and density. The probes are usually short, typically ranging from 20 to 70 base pairs, allowing for efficient hybridization with target sequences. Oligonucleotide arrays can be customized for specific experiments, with researchers selecting the probes to be included based on their specific research goals.
The analysis of the data obtained from oligonucleotide arrays involves complex computational methods to determine gene expression levels, genetic variations, or copy number alterations. The results obtained from oligonucleotide array experiments provide valuable insights into gene function, disease mechanisms, and the identification of potential drug targets. Oligonucleotide arrays have revolutionized the field of genomics by enabling high-throughput analysis of DNA and RNA samples, facilitating the discovery and characterization of genes associated with various biological processes and diseases.
The word "oligonucleotide" has its roots in two Greek words: "oligo" meaning "few" or "little" and "nucleotide" referring to the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
The term "array" comes from the Latin word "arreare" which means "to arrange" or "to set in order". In biology, an array typically refers to a collection of molecules or entities arranged in a specific pattern or order.
Thus, "oligonucleotide arrays" refers to a set of short DNA or RNA molecules (oligonucleotides) that are arranged or organized in a specific pattern or order for various applications such as gene expression analysis, genotyping, or DNA sequencing.