High throughput and global approaches to gene expression

In the past several years, a new set of technologies based on whole genome analysis have revolutionized the study of gene expression. These microarray or "gene chip" technologies, which arose out of the development of large-scale sequencing approaches, are now coming into increasing use, generating a far greater volume of data than the data representing the sequences themselves. This review focuses on the current state of development of these technologies, and the available approaches to manage and analyze the information they generate. The applicability of this technology to general problems in biomedicine is also discussed.