Identification of Bacterial Species Using 16S rRNA Microarray Technology

The goal of this project is to develop DNA-based microarray technology for use in the undergraduate teaching laboratory. We have previously developed a PCR-based student exercise for the identification of bacterial species based on the DNA sequence fingerprint of the 5-prime region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. In an effort to continue to incorporate modern biotechnology into the classroom, we have integrated microarray technology into this project. Microarray technology allows for the quantitative analysis of large numbers of DNA and RNA molecules. Introducing microarray technology into the undergraduate classroom is a challenge due to the cost and the difficulty of analyzing large datasets. Our microarray exercise allows students to perform microarray experiments in a cost effective and goal-directed manner. To develop the 16S rRNA identification microarrays, we generated an 800 bp DNA fragment by the PCR, which were spotted onto glass microarray slides. A total of nine different bacteria have been use