DNA Microarray

Real World Example

Imagine trying to find the right key for one of many locks in your house. In a similar way, a DNA microarray acts like a set of keys, where each DNA fragment on the glass slide or silicon chip is a key designed to match a specific lock, or gene sequence, in a sample. Just as you would test each key until you find the one that fits the lock perfectly, scientists use DNA microarrays to match each DNA fragment with its corresponding gene sequence, allowing them to identify which genes are active in a sample.