The DNA Core hosts instruments that detect and measure the amounts of the many macromolecules in cells. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) scope enables the isolation of groups of cells or even individual cells from a histological tissue slide or a cell culture dish with high power laser. This permits the studying of a purer population of cells or even individual cells. Different macromolecules, like RNA, can then be isolated from the isolated cells and checked for quantity and quality using capillary electrophoresis system.

To understand the underlying differences between various samples, their gene expression levels can be studied using microarray system. Using microarrays tens of thousands of gene expression levels can be measured simultaneously anda thorough picture of the expression differences can be obtained. Microarrays can be run for samples from many different species, including human, mouse, and rat.

For more accurate measuring of gene expression levels and for microarray data validation, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be performed. The core hosts two real-time PCR systems, both capable of measuring absolute and relative quantities of different RNA species. One of the real-time PCR systems is also capable of performing runs in a 384-well (and card) system in addition to the standard 96-well format. This enables faster and more cost effective microarray data validation. All the instruments in the core can be used as a streamlined process or as individual components for specific studies.