Labs on Chip

3	Biochemical Assays and Sequencing Techniques

3.1    INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, we will review a few key biochemical characterization techniques. In general, the goal of a biochemical characterization procedure is to either identify in a quantitative manner the presence and activity of a target substance in a sample or to determine the unknown structure of a target molecule that is present in the sample itself. In the first case, these techniques are commonly referred to as biochemical assays, in the second case, since biomolecules are generally polymers, they are referred to as sequencing techniques.

Common medical diagnostic analyses, like hemoglobin analysis in blood, are assays while the techniques to determine proteins or DNA structure ...