Arrays have become a staple of life sciences research. They are a biotech tool used for detecting, assessing, and characterizing interactions between biomolecules like peptides, sugars, proteins, DNA, RNA, small molecules like siRNA, or pharmaceuticals. The term refers to the high throughput technique wherein a large number of variables (i.e. different DNA or peptide sequences) can be tested at once for their ability to attract or bind to another biomolecule. An array can be performed on a slide using nylon membranes, on aqueous gels, or microtitre plates, just to name a few. The development of arrays made possible areas of research like proteomics and genomics.
Arrays are useful tools for drug development because large numbers of molecules can be investigated at once to detect those that interact the best with the target. One example of this is antibody arrays for detecting interactions with antigens. Arrays are also excellent diagnostic tools for serum and urine samples, and detecting biomarkers of various diseases.