In 1995 DuPont and Genencor began using sophisticated gene chips that let them study RNA activity inside the nucleus of E. coli bacteria.

FORBES: Revving Up Nature's Engines

Instead of making drugs, they would use the high-tech tools of gene chips, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry (the rapid mixing and matching of chemicals) and bioinformatics (software that analyzes data)--to develop entirely different compounds.

FORBES: Breaking a Sweat

Affymetrix's SNP chips are used by gene hunters at the Broad Institute and Translational Genomics in Phoenix.

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Chips being used for current disease gene studies have 300, 000 to 500, 000 SNPs on them.

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The method requires a series of advanced laboratory procedures, microarray chips and a high-speed gene-sequencing machine to assemble the strands in the proper order, correct any errors and then read the final text.

WSJ: Harvard Researchers Turn Book Into DNA Code

Merck (nyse: MRK - news - people ), the world's third-largest drug company, is using gene expression arrays, also known as DNA chips, to keep clinical duds from reaching expensive animal or human trials.

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