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Making Chips to Probe Genes
Over a decade of rapid advances in biology has swept an avalanche of genetic information into scientists' laps. But analysis of so vast an input, whether to deduce the inner workings of cells or to diagnose disease, would be impractical without high-throughput technologies. Of these, DNA micro-arrays--chips of glass or sometimes silicon that can detect the presence and abundance of particular sequences of DNA--are indispensable. Using these biochips, scientists can perform experiments on thousands of genes at a time.
Recognizing their potential, several big technology firms, some not typically identified with the life sciences, are starting up their own micro-array operations, writes associate editor Samuel K. Moore in the March issue of IEEE Spectrum.
Corning, Motorola, and Agilent Technologies are among the companies bending technological know-how to the task of making micro-arrays and gaining a piece of a rapidly growing market that is worth some US $300 million today.
Corning Inc. of Corning, N.Y., has adapted its technologies for making catalytic converters, optical fibers, and liquid crystal displays to producing chips that can detect up to 10,000 different sequences of DNA. Agilent Technologies Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., a spin-off of popular desktop printer maker Hewlett-Packard, has adapted its inkjet technology to the making of micro-arrays.
And Motorola, of Schaumburg, Ill., is applying its expertise in miniaturization and fabricating silicon microchips to the development of biochips with electronic systems that manipulate and detect DNA.
Moreover, these technology giants have to contend with the current market leader, Affymetrix, which has a big head start and makes popular arrays using photolithography--the same technique used to make silicon microchips. At the same time, they must dodge involvement in a complex legal battle between Affymetrix and its other competitors, as described by Spectrum contributing editor Christopher Morrison.
Contact: Samuel K. Moore, 212 419 7921, [email protected].For a faxed copy of the complete article ("Making Chips to Probe Genes" by Associate Editor Samuel K. Moore, IEEE Spectrum, March 2001, pp. 54-60) or to arrange an interview, contact: Nancy T. Hantman, 212 419 7561, [email protected].
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