Integrated microfabricated devices for genetic assays

Genetic assays are powerful technology drivers and excellent candidate applications for miniaturization technologies because the demand for inexpensive genetic information is essentially unlimited, and the cost and time for the assay decrease with sample volume. Genetic information is stored in long DNA molecules in solution. Processing of DNA molecules in the microscale hence requires the implementation of microfluidic devices capable of handling, mixing, thermal cycling, separating, and detecting nano and pico liter liquid samples. This paper discusses the implementation of integrated microfluidic devices for DNA processing.