This invention relates to an array, including a universal micro-array, for the analysis of nucleic acids, such as 
DNA. The devices and methods of the invention can be used for identifying 
gene expression patterns in any 
organism. More specifically, all possible oligonucleotides (n-mers) necessary for the identification of 
gene expression patterns are synthesized. According to the invention, n is large enough to give the specificity to uniquely identify the 
expression pattern of each 
gene in an 
organism of interest, and is small enough that the method and device can be easily and efficiently practiced and made. The invention provides a method of analyzing molecules, such as polynucleotides (e.g., 
DNA), by measuring the 
signal of an optically-detectable (e.g., fluorescent, 
ultraviolet, radioactive or color change) reporter associated with the molecules. In a 
polynucleotide analysis device according to the invention, levels of 
gene expression are correlated to a 
signal from an optically-detectable (e.g. fluorescent) reporter associated with a hybridized 
polynucleotide. The invention includes an 
algorithm and method to interpret data derived from a micro-array or other device, including techniques to decode or deconvolve potentially ambiguous signals into unambiguous or reliable 
gene expression data.