Compact disc with both numeric and genomic information as DNA microarray platform

The compact disc (CD) is an ideal tool for reading, writing, and storing numeric information. It was used in this work as a support for constructing DNA microarrays suited for genomic analysis. The CD was divided into two functional areas: the external ring of the CD was used for multiparametric DNA analysis on arrays, and the inner portion was used for storing numeric information. Because polycarbonate and CD resins autofluoresce, a colorimetric method for DNA microarray detection was used that is well adapted for the fast detection necessary when using a CD reader. A double-sided CD reader was developed for the simultaneous analysis of both array and numeric data. The numeric data are engraved as pits in the CD tracks and result in the succession of 0/1, which results from the modulation of the laser reflection when one reads the edges of the pits. Another diffraction-based laser was placed above the CD for the detection of the DNA targets on the microarrays. Both readers fit easily in a PC tower. Both numeric and genomic information data were simultaneously acquired, and each array was reconstituted, analyzed, and processed for quantification by the appropriate software.