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.