Each cell type in higher organisms, such as humans or rice plants, express different genes at different times. Scientists have developed high-throughput, inexpensive methods to examine these gene expression profiles using “DNA Microarrays”, which involves thousands of fragments of DNA fixed to a glass slide. They can be used to figure out which genes are important for responding to a stimulus or tolerating stresses. The researcher and her colleagues used the new rice microarray to investigate gene expression when plants are grown in the light versus the dark. This gene expression was then combined with biochemical pathway data to correctly predict the function of genes whose role was previously unknown.These newly identified genes carry out light related biochemical processes such as photosynthesis and photorespiration. This method will aid researchers in identifying the function of the 45 000 rice genes. The research group has also developed a web-based program that allows the user to compare gene expression profiles across multiple rice microarray platforms, which will further accelerate this research.
Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081009094647.htm
