Question

describe two methods to make dna arrays using a virual mask approach

Answer 1

Two Methods to make DNA arrays using a Virtual Mask Approach are :

Digital Mirror Array(DMA) : Maskless array synthesizer technology as depicted which utilizes a digital micromirror device (DMD) to create virtual masks. The DMD forms the pattern of UV light needed to direct the specific nucleic acid addition during photo-mediated synthesis. UV light removes the photolabile protecting group (circles) from the microarray surface, allowing the addition of a single protected nucleotide to the growing oligonucleotide chain. The cycling of DMD filtering, light deprotection, and nucleotide addition creates oligonucleotide features 60 to 100 bp in length on the NimbleGen microarray.

Molecular Arrays: A microarray is a collection of microscopic features (most commonly DNA) which can be probed with target molecules to produce either quantitative (gene expression) or qualitative (diagnostic) data

Virtual Mask Approach has its further usages in other Array design process such as :

Actuated Mirror Array(AMA) : Actuated Mirror Array (AMA) is a new reflective type light modulator that uses micromachined thin film piezoelectric actuators in conjunction with 300,000 micro mirrors of 100μm by 100μm size. A mirror array module consists of the active matrix, where the image signal voltages are applied, and the cantilever beams, which are actuated by the applied signal voltages, on top of the active matrix. Since the tilting of the mirror pixel defines the gray scale of the light beam on the screen, the 300,000 mirror pixels should have initial positions as uniform as possible.