Genetic aberrations leading to loss or gain of chromosomal material are an important cause of mental retardation and congenital malformations and play a key role in the development of many cancers. Over the past decades comparative genomic hybridization has proved to be a powerful tool when it comes to analyzing DNA copy number changes. The procedure involves isolation of genomic DNA from both test and reference material. These are differentially labeled and competitively hybridized to chromosomal target, where copy number balance between the two samples is reflected by their signal intensity ratio. One main restriction of conventional CGH however is the limited resolution at which DNA copy numbers can be detected.

With the advent of BAC microarrays, an unprecedented high resolution for whole genome scanning within one single experiment has now become feasible. Array based CGH analysis (arrayCGH) has become 'the' tool of choice for detection of copy number changes in tumors and genetic disorders. Until recently it was primarily PCR amplified bacterial artificial chromosomes (or BACs) that have been spotted on arrays. Arrays made from less complex nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides have been successfully explored and now offer the high-resolution required for accurate detection of more specific chromosomal alterations.

Are you equipped with all the tools to make every arrayCGH experiment a step forward? Your sample is the most valuable part of the experiment and whatever platform you are using it is of utmost importance that you generate results you can trust, every time. Next to choosing the right BAC array platform for your arrayCGH applications there are many things that you need to consider for sample isolation, preparation and labeling.

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