ABSTRACT
Gene expression profiling has been established over the last decade as a standard technique for obtaining a molecular fingerprint of tissues or cells in different biological conditions [18, 7]. Based on the availability of whole genome sequences, the technology of DNA chips (or microarrays) allows the measurement of mRNA levels simultaneously for thousands of genes. The set (or vector) of measured gene expression levels under one condition (or sample) are called the profile of that condition. Gene expression profiles are powerful sources of information and have revolutionized the way we study and understand function in biological systems [1].
