ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 13.1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 349 13.2 Optimization of DNA Sequencing Separations ................................. 350 13.3 Parallel DNA Separations in Microchips ............................................ 353 13.4 Integrated Microchips for DNA Analysis ........................................... 356 13.5 Phase-Changing Sacrificial Layers for Polymer
Microchip Fabrication............................................................................. 357 13.6 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 359 Acknowledgment................................................................................................ 360 References ............................................................................................. 360
Nucleic acids are the storage medium for inherited information in living organisms. Thus, scientists have considerable interest in developing enhanced tools for the determination of nucleic acids, and the past twenty years have seen a tremendous expansion in DNA analysis capabilities. Size sorting of DNA, a critical aspect of both genotyping and sequencing, has been transformed from an onerous, slow, and labor-intensive operation involving slab gel electrophoresis to a rapid, automated, and ultra-highthroughput process. The initial miniaturization of electrophoresis into a capillary format enabled higher electric fields to be applied in DNA separations, providing much faster analyses.1-3 The subsequent development of capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) systems with parallel bundles of lanes4-6 provided a substantial boost in DNA sample analysis capacity. These advances
were among the first clear manifestations of the benefits of miniaturization and parallel separation in DNA analysis.
