Genosensors

Summary form only given, as follows. The blueprint for human cells, genomic DNA, is composed of approximately three billion monomer units. The way in which these monomers are arranged, the DNA sequence, is a major worldwide scientific effort and should be known for a typical cell in the next decade. The DNA sequence of the several hundred thousand genes which control cell function, representing about five percent of genomic DNA, should be known in the next few years. Comparison of the gene sequence in normal and abnormal tissue is expected to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. A novel way to analyze the sequence of DNA, sequencing by hybridization, is described. The techniques allows the economical, simultaneous analysis of multiple genes. A collaborative effort between industry, academia and the US Department of Commerce to automate this technique using microelectronic chips is also summarized