Recently, a quantum leap has been achieved in the analysis of DNA and proteins through the advent of the biochip technology. This technology is a product of a broad interdisciplinary approach combining biochemical analysis, semiconductor manufacturing and computer software. Biochips can be defined as miniaturized ordered arrays of macro molecules or pieces thereof that are immobilized in a precise spatial manner on support media and can be used in highly automated, large-scale and high-throughput fashion to analyze biological material. The biochip can be used in a wide variety of areas related to basic research and can find versatile applications in almost all areas of human activities connected to biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and environment monitoring and bioremediation.

The power of the technology has already been demonstrated in areas like gene sequencing and proofreading, detection of single-nucleotide mutation and polymorphism, identification of genes, identification of viruses and microorganisms, gene expression analysis, analysis of sequencespecific ligands and proteins, and others.