Portal offers access to genomic content, annotation information and probe sequences, and enables customers to design custom microarrays using catalogue probes and/or probes from their own sources
Agilent has introduced eArray 3.0, a secure web portal for designing custom microarrays used in drug discovery, disease studies and basic research.
This free online tool empowers scientists to design their own microarrays with increased flexibility, speed and control.
DNA microarray technology enables scientists to assess patterns of gene expression or genomic alterations that underlie diseases and other biological processes.
Some experiments can be conducted using ready-made, off-the-shelf microarrays, but many scientists require customised genomic content to meet their specific research needs.
The eArray portal is the first free, online service that gives scientists full control of the design, layout and format of a microarray while providing easy access to Agilent's high-quality, up-to-date genomic content.
The eArray portal is the newest addition to Agilent's growing suite of integrated solutions for genomics research, which includes catalogue and custom microarrays as well as optimised reagents, hardware and software.
"Our secure microarray design portal is the latest in a series of innovations we've introduced to expand our genomics solutions and improve the productivity of genomics research," said Mike Booth, general manager of the gene expression group at Agilent.
The eArray portal will improve the workflow of genomics research, from experimental design through publication of results.
"This online tool will change the way custom microarrays are designed, and will help provide more scientists with high-quality, reliable, fully customised tools to address their individual research interests," said Scott Harrison, custom microarray programme manager at Agilent.
The eArray portal offers customers access to Agilent's genomic content, annotation information and probe sequences, and enables them to design custom microarrays using catalogue probes, probes from their own sources or a combination of both.
Once the full complement of probes has been selected, customers can compose the microarray using various layouts (1x44K, 1x22K, or 2x11K probes per slide).
In addition to increased flexibility and control of design, the benefits of the eArray portal include:.
Real-time online design.
Open access to validated catalogue probes.
Open access to probe sequences, gene symbols and transcript information linked to external public databases.
Access to Agilent's SurePrint DNA microarray technology, which supports multiple formats and layouts, allows users to add their own content, provides built-in quality assurance probes and facilitates the timely update of genomic material.
Compatibility with Agilent's feature extraction software and data analysis software.
