Microarrays: What are they for?

Feb 11, 2025

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A monastery-like institution inspired by Neal Stephenson's 'Anathem,' filled with scholarly monks dressed in minimalist robes, engaged in deep discussions and intellectual pursuits. The setting is illuminated by soft, ethereal light filtering through high, arched windows, revealing intricate clockwork machinery integrated into the walls and ceiling. The air is filled with the rhythmic ticking of gears and bells marking the passage of time. The monks are gathered in small groups, surrounded by ancient books, diagrams, and glowing artifacts, while others are tending to mechanical devices. The scene conveys a blend of serene reverence and the hum of mechanical ingenuity, set in a timeless, otherworldly atmosphere.

First I want to admit my fundamental bias against Microarrays... They often mentioned as a “better” alternative to sequencing, when pitching sequencing technologies. I never bought this, sequencing seems liked a fundamentally better way to address many of the applications arrays are used for.

So…whenever someone mentions microarrays to me my mind retreats to a happier place.. one filled with secular monks in quiet contemplation working toward scientific progress.

But it’s good to re-assess our fundamental biases from time to time. So I’ve been trying to figure out what people still use microarrays for, and where the market is going.

Microarray market size is ~$1B?

First, let’s look at Illumina and the Beadarray platform… that market as been pretty stable it seems at around $400M over the past few years:

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Microarrays: What are they for?

Microarray market size is ~$1B?

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