Chemical array fabrication and use

Abstract

A method of using an addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate includes receiving the addressable array and an associated machine readable identifier carried on an array substrate or array housing. The array is exposed to a sample and read, and the identifier machine read as an identifier signal. Biological function data for one or more of the biopolymers is retrieved from a memory based on the identifier signal. Other methods in which first and updated sets of feature characteristic data may readily be provided to array users, and methods of generating arrays are also provided, as are apparatus and computer program products which can execute a method for generating or using arrays.

1 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . A method of using an addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate, comprising: 
 (a) receiving an array of addressable biopolymer regions and an associated machine readable identifier carried on an array substrate or array housing;    (b) machine reading the identifier as an identifier signal; and    (c) retrieving updated biological function data for one or more of the biopolymers from a memory based on the identifier signal, wherein the retrieved biological function data comprises information on the function of a target of the array, or its complement, or the gene from which either originated;    wherein the retrieval of the biological function data includes: communicating the identifier signal to a processor which retrieves data on the identity and biological function of the biopolymers based on the read identifier.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the biopolymers are polynucleotides.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the biopolymers are DNA.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the memory from which biological function data is retrieved is a portable storage medium received from a remote location.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the processor which retrieves the biological function data and the memory from which the biological function data is retrieved, are remote from the location at which the array and identifier are read, and wherein the read identifier or identity data is communicated to the remote processor.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises exposing the array to a sample, and reading the array.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the machine readable identifier is read while the array is in a same apparatus which reads the array.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising obtaining a communication address which is used to establish communication with the remote processor.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising retrieving biopolymer identity data from a memory carrying multiple identifiers in association with the biopolymer identity data, using the identifier signal, and wherein the biopolymer identity data is communicated to the remote processor to retrieve the biological function data in response.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the retrieved biological function data comprises information on the gene from which a target or its complement originated.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising retrieving feature characteristic data for one or more features on the array based on the identifier signal.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the feature characteristic data includes an indication of a suspected feature error.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the suspected feature error is selected from the group consisting of: an error in dimension, an error in location, presence or absence of the feature at a location, and amount of biopolymer present at the feature.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising controlling processing information obtained from the array in accordance with the retrieved biological function data.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising controlling reading of the array in accordance with the retrieved biological function data.  
     
     
         52 . A method of using an addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate, comprising: 
 (a) receiving an array of addressable biopolymer regions and an associated machine readable identifier carried on an array substrate or array housing;    (b) machine reading the identifier as an identifier signal; and    (c) retrieving updated feature characteristic data for one or more of the biopolymers from a memory based on the identifier signal,    wherein the retrieval of the feature characteristic data includes: communicating the identifier signal to a processor which retrieves data on feature characteristics based on the read identifier.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the feature characteristic data includes an indication of a suspected feature error.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the suspected feature error is selected from the group consisting of: an error in dimension, an error in location, presence or absence of the feature at a location, and amount of biopolymer present at the feature.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the method further comprises saving into a memory, a first set of feature characteristic data for an array, retrieving an updated set of feature characteristic data based on the identifier signal, wherein feature characteristic data from the first set for a given feature is replaced with corresponding data from the updated set when the first set data conflicts with the updated set data.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52  additionally comprising communicating feature characteristic data for an array to a remote location in association with an identification of the feature.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the communicated feature identification includes the array identifier.  
     
     
         58 . A method of  claim 57  wherein the received updated set of feature characteristic data is communicated from a remote location in response to receipt of the read array identifier.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the updated set of feature characteristic data is received on a portable storage medium.  
     
     
         60 . A method of generating addressable arrays of biopolymers on a substrate, comprising: 
 (a) providing biopolymers for an array on different regions of the substrate so as to fabricate the array;    (b) applying an identifier to the substrate of the array or a housing carrying the substrate;    (c) saving in a memory, data on the identity of the biopolymers on the array associated with the identifier;    (d) providing the fabricated array to a location remote from the fabrication location;    (e) forwarding to the remote location, updated feature characteristic data or updated biological function data associated with at least one array identifier, wherein the biological function data comprises information on the function of a target of the array, or its complement, or the gene from which either originated; and    (f) communicating to a remote location an updated set of data for an array in response to a received communication of the identifier corresponding to that array.    
     
     
         61 . An array fabrication station, comprising: 
 (a) an array fabricator to provide biopolymers onto different regions of a substrate so as to fabricate an array;    (b) a writing system which applies a map identifier to a substrate or a housing carrying the substrate;    (c) a processor which saves in a memory, data on the identity of the biopolymers for each array, in association with the identifier for that array;    and which saves in a memory first sets of feature characteristic data or biological function data for the array in association with the array identifier; and which saves in a memory an updated set of feature characteristic data and/or biological function data for at least some of the features of the array, in association with the array identifier.    
     
     
         62 . The array fabrication station of  claim 61 , wherein the processor retrieves feature characteristic data and/or biological function data at predetermined time intervals from one or more remote stations.  
     
     
         63 . The array fabrication station of  claim 62 , wherein the processor communicates updated data to one or more remote locations in response to receipt of a communicated identifier for the array.  
     
     
         64 . The array fabrication station of  claim 61 , wherein in response to received read data from the array associated with the identifier, the processor updates feature characteristic data and/or biological function data.