{"id":17242,"date":"2024-12-12T14:06:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T14:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationisrael.org.il\/en\/?p=17242"},"modified":"2024-12-15T09:29:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T09:29:26","slug":"biochips-for-climate-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovationisrael.org.il\/en\/biochips-for-climate-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Biochips: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Biological chips<\/strong> (from now on, BCs) are among the most prominent manifestations of the intersection between biology and technology<\/strong>. These advanced devices integrate biological components, such as DNA or protein probes, with microelectronic systems to create miniaturized lab-on-chip platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This integration enables precise analysis of biological molecules, thereby transforming the fields of biotechnology and medical diagnostics. In other words, through the automation and miniaturization of molecular studies, BCs facilitate extremely rapid detection and identification of a wide range of biological molecules<\/strong>, including DNA, proteins, and other biological entities.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The advent of BCs exemplifies the Bioconvergence revolution, in which the fusion of biology with other technological fields, such as computer science and engineering, opens new frontiers in research and application. This revolutionary approach is especially relevant to addressing the multifaceted challenges of climate change. In this context, BCs play a unique role in combating climate change, thanks to their ability to perform sensitive, high-throughput analyses <\/strong>with unprecedented efficiency<\/a>. This capability is essential for monitoring environmental changes, tracking the spread of climate-sensitive diseases, assessing biodiversity and ecosystem health, enhancing carbon dioxide sequestration, and advancing climate-resilient agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research explores the diverse applications of BC technology in the fight against climate change<\/strong>, emphasizing its central role in current and future mitigation and adaptation efforts. The review begins with an overview of BC technology and its various applications. The review analyzes multiple BC applications in addressing climate change across different sectors, including environmental monitoring, agriculture, water resource management, energy, and ecosystem restoration. A market analysis emphasizes opportunities, barriers, and the field’s regulatory climate. Finally, a listing of key companies in the field is provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Types of Biological Chips<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

BCs can be categorized based on their operational components<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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\"\" DNA Microarrays\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Characterized by an array of single-stranded DNA probes, these BCs assist in gene expression analysis by binding to complementary cDNA or mRNA extracted from a sample.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\" Protein Microarrays\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

These BCs are equipped with immobilized antibodies or \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that bind to specific targets, enabling specific binding to target proteins in a given sample. This makes them unique tools for investigating protein functions, interactions, and the presence of biomarkers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\" Lab on a Chip<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Devices integrating microfluidic technology with electronic systems for manipulating and analyzing minuscule liquid volumes. They incorporate a complex network of microchannels, valves, and pumps to miniaturize and automate various biochemical processes, including PCR amplification and cell sorting, all on a single chip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How do Biological Chips operate?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The BC operation<\/a> Can be divided into several key stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Sample Preparation and Introduction <\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Preparing the biological sample according to the chip’s requirements and introducing it into the chip.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Probe-Target <\/strong>Hybridization \u2013 Binding between the chip\u2019s array of probes and the sample.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Detection<\/strong> \u2013 Identifying and quantifying the interactions (standard detection methods include optical, electrical, and colorimetric).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Signal Processing<\/strong> \u2013 Processing and analyzing the raw signals generated by the detection system and converting them into data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Data Analysis and Interpretation<\/strong> \u2013 Processing the data to conclude the sample.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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    Components of Biological Chips<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    BCs are composed of key components<\/a><\/strong> that enables their functionality. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These components may vary depending on the specific type and application of the chip, but they generally include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n