Affymetrix, Inc.

Michael P Mittmann

Earl A Hubbell

MacDonald S Morris

David J Lockhart

David J Balaban

Josie Dai

Gloria Cheung

Ronald W Davis

Martin J Goldberg

Randall J True

Teresa A Webster

Luis Jevons

Thomas B Ryder

Daniel Davis Shoemaker

Derek H Bernhart

Ming-Hsiu Ho

Michael Ru

An encoded microparticle having a spatial code is provided; and a set of encoded microparticles possessing subsets each provided with a distinguishable spatial code, wherein the codes comply with a pre-determined coding scheme. Presented are also methods of using the encoded microparticles in various biological assays, such as various multiplex assays and visualizing them by creating a digital image of the encoded microparticles and determining whether false positives are present. Further are provided methods of manufacture of the encoded microparticles which employ ferromagnetic nanoparticles applied using spin-on-glass techniques.

Miniaturized microparticles

The invention provides a unique set of nucleic acid sequences which is appropriate for use for a wide variety of applications requiring nucleic acid tags. As such, the sequence tags of the presently claimed invention may be used, for example, to label biological and nonbiological materials, in genotyping applications and in a variety of other analyses.

Tag nucleic acids and probe arrays

Systems, methods, and products are described for synthesizing probe arrays of polymers. A mask is used that includes reticle areas, each of which includes a number of reticles associated with a same synthesis area on a substrate. A method includes (a) aligning the mask with respect to the substrate so that a first reticle of a first reticle area is aligned with a first synthesis area and so that a second reticle of the first reticle area is aligned with a first discard area on the substrate; (b) coupling monomers on the first synthesis area at locations determined by the first reticle; (c) re-aligning the mask with respect to the substrate so that the second reticle is aligned with the first synthesis area; and (d) coupling monomers on the first synthesis area at locations determined by the second reticle. The monomers may be, for example, nucleotides, amino acids or saccharides.

Photolithographic method and system for efficient mask usage in manufacturing DNA arrays

Systems and method for organizing information relating to the design of polymer probe array chips including oligonucleotide array chips. A database model is provided which organizes information interrelating probes on a chip, genomic items investigated by the chip, and sequence information relating to the design of the chip. The model is readily translatable into database languages such as SQL. The database model scales to permit storage of information about large numbers of chips having complex designs.

Method and system for providing a probe array chip design database

Computer-aided techniques for analyzing biological sequences like nucleic acids are provided. The computer system may analyze hybridization intensities indicating hybridization affinity between nucleic acid probes and a sample nucleic acid sequence in order to call bases in the sample sequence. Multiple base calls may be combined to form a single base call. Additionally, the computer system may analyze hybridization intensities in order to monitor gene expression or the change in gene expression as compared to a baseline.

Computer-aided techniques for analyzing biological sequences

Methods of selecting tag nucleic acids and VLSIPS&trade; arrays and the arrays made by the methods are used to label and track compositions, including cells and viruses, e.g., in libraries of cells or viruses. In addition to providing a way of tracking compositions in mixtures, the tags facilitate analysis of cell and viral phenotypes.

Selecting tag nucleic acids

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Michael P Mittmann