Information processing issues and solutions associated with microarray technology

Managing vast amounts of information associated with DNA array technology presents a challenge. This article describes a synergistic analy- sis management (SAM) system, which integrates mi- croarray and laboratory data along with analysis steps to present a synergistic view to the researcher. We describe tools for data management in array fab- rication, automated image analysis, and array data mining. All the described modules allow for seamless flow of information and are connected through a da- tabase. SAM will enhance microarray projects at pharmaceutical and academic institutions, which face the problems of high throughput microarray data management. � 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:317-327, 2000