ABSTRACT
Abstract ................................................................................................................. 203 Introduction........................................................................................................... 204 Importance of Systematic Data Management for Quality Assurance........................................................................................... 205 Data Management Needs at Each Step of Array Experiment ............................................................................................. 207
Array Design............................................................................................. 207 Array Tracking.......................................................................................... 208 Sample Handling/Processing .................................................................... 208 Hybridizing ............................................................................................... 212 Array Scanning ......................................................................................... 214 Image Quantifying .................................................................................... 215 Processed Data.......................................................................................... 215
Conclusions........................................................................................................... 218 References............................................................................................................. 219
A microarray experiment is conceptually simple — the expression levels of many genes (many thousands, in most cases) in a particular biological sample are measured [1,2]. However, to place the results of an array experiment in proper context, a great deal of data must be collected and properly organized and interrelated with respect to how the expression data were collected and later how these data were transformed into biologically relevant information. In this chapter, we will outline the microarray experimental workflow for both self-spotted as well as commercial array platforms.
