<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.27



                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                             BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
as of March 24, 2000, by and between GENOMIC SOLUTIONS INC., a Delaware
corporation ("GSI"), GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, LTD., a United Kingdom corporation
("Genomic UK"), GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, K.K., a Japanese corporation ("Genomic
Japan", and together with GSI and Genomic UK, the "Borrowers"), WHITE PINES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP I, a Michigan limited partnership "WPLP"), PACIFIC CAPITAL,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Pacific"), and CHASE VENTURE CAPITAL
ASSOCIATES, a California limited partnership ("Chase", and together with WPLP
and Pacific, the "Requisite Lenders").

                                   RECITALS:

     A. Borrowers and Requisite Lenders are parties to a Business Loan Agreement
dated October 28, 1999 (the "Loan Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other
things, the Requisite Lenders and certain other persons (collectively, the
"Lenders") advanced to Borrowers the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($3,500,000"), evidenced by Promissory Notes delivered by Borrowers to
Lenders (collectively, the "Promissory Notes").

     B. The Promissory Notes (the "Notes") are generally due and payable on
October 28, 2004, but become due and payable on the settlement date following
the effective date of a registration statement filed by GSI with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a public offering and sale of securities
of GSI, if such date precedes October 28, 2004. GSI has filed a registration
statement with the SEC for a public offering and sale of its securities for an
aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 (the "IPO") and has applied to have
such securities listed on the Nasdaq National Market System. If GSI consummates
the IPO and the securities sold in the IPO are listed on the Nasdaq National
Market System, GSI would like to extend the due date of the Notes to the first
anniversary of the date on which the IPO is consummated.

     C. GSI wishes to increase its existing line of credit loan with Comerica
Bank (the "Bank") from $2,000,000 to $22,000,000, which amount constitutes
Long-Term Debt under the Loan Agreement and would exceed the amount of Long-Term
Debt which Borrowers may allow to exist under Section 9(a)(ii) of the Business
Loan Agreement. GSI would like to amend Section 9(a)(ii) of the Loan Agreement
to increase the amount of Long Term Debt, which it may allow to exist by
$22,000,000.

     D. Under Section 14(i) of the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement, any
related document and any other agreement between the parties to the Loan
Agreement, may be modified in a writing executed by Borrowers and Lenders owning
not less than two-thirds of the warrants, or shares of GSI's common stock issued
upon exercise of the warrants, issued pursuant to the Loan Agreement. Requisite
Lenders own more than two-thirds of the warrants, or shares of GSI's common
stock issued upon exercise of the warrants, issued pursuant to the Loan
Agreement.

<PAGE>   2

     E. Borrowers and Requisite Lenders have agreed to amend the Business Loan
Agreement to allow GSI to increase the amount of Long-Term Debt which it may
allow to exist by $22,000,000 and, if an IPO is consummated and the securities
issued by GSI in the IPO is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System, to
amend the Notes to extend the due date of the Notes to the first anniversary of
the date on which the IPO is consummated, all upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Amendment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

     1.  Amendment of Loan Agreement. Section 9(a)(ii) is hereby amended in
its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(ii) allow consolidated Long-Term Debt to be greater than
     $15,500,000 at any time during 1999, to be greater than $36,500,000 at any
     time during 2000, to be greater than 37,500,000 at any time during 2001, to
     be greater than 41,500,000 at any time during 2002 or 2003 or to be greater
     than 38,500,000 as of December 31, 2003 or at any time thereafter.
     "Long-Term Debt" shall mean the sum of (x) all bank debt, (y) all
     liabilities classified as long-term in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles, and (z) the current portion of any liabilities
     encompassed by "(y)"."

     2. Amendment to Notes. If GSI consummates the IPO and lists its securities
on the Nasdaq National Market System, then, effective as of the date of the
consummation of the IPO, the Notes shall be amended and restated in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Amended Notes"). Following the consummation
of the IPO, Lenders shall surrender their Notes to Borrowers in exchange for the
Amended Notes. From and after the date of the consummation of the IPO and until
the Notes are surrendered and exchanged for the Amended Notes, the Notes shall
entitle Lenders only to receive payments of principal, interest, fees and
expenses as provided under the terms of the Amended Notes. Anything in this
Amendment to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligation of Lenders to
surrender the Notes in exchange for the Amended Notes shall be conditioned upon,
and subject to, the execution and delivery by the Bank to Lenders of a First
Amendment to Subordination Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B
(the "Subordination Agreement Amendment"). Requisite Lenders hereby covenant and
agree to execute and deliver the Subordination Agreement Amendment.

     3. Full Force and Effect. The Loan Agreement, as modified by this
Amendment, remains in full force and effect.

     4. Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and
all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Copies (whether
facsimile, photostatic or otherwise) of signatures to this Agreement shall be
deemed to be originals and may be relied on to the same extent as the originals.

                                      -2-




<PAGE>   3

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment on the
date first set forth above.


                                        GENOMIC SOLUTIONS INC.

                                        By:   [SIG]
                                           -----------------------------------
                                            Jeffrey S. Williams, President

                                        GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, LTD.

                                        By:  [SIG]
                                           -----------------------------------
                                        Its: Chairman
                                            ----------------------------------

                                        GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, K.K.

                                        By:  [SIG]
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Its: Director
                                            ----------------------------------

                                        WHITE PINES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP I

                                        By: White Pines G.P., L.L.C., its
                                            general partner

                                        By: /s/ Frederick L. Yocum
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Frederick L. Yocum, Chairman

                                        PACIFIC CAPITAL, L.P.

                                        By: WP Pacific G.P., L.L.C., a general
                                            partner

                                        By: /s/ Frederick L. Yocum
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Frederick L. Yocum, Chairman


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
                                    CHASE VENTURE CAPITAL
                                    ASSOCIATES

                                    By:  [SIG]
                                       --------------------------
                                    Its: General Partner
                                       --------------------------


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED,
HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAW OR UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT, SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO
EFFECTUATE SUCH TRANSACTION.

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

$                                                            Ann Arbor, Michigan
                                                                           ,2000

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Genomic Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
4355 Varsity Drive, Suite E, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, Genomic Solutions, Ltd.,
a United Kingdom corporation, Unit 3, Forge Close, Little End Road, Eaton
Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, England PE193TP and Genomic Solutions, K.K., a
Japanese corporation, Gotanda Chuo Bldg. 2F, 3-5, Higashigotanda 2-chome,
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan, jointly and severally, hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Borrower", promise to pay to the order of         ,
hereinafter called the "Lender" or holder, the sum of
($               )dollars in lawful money of the United States of America, with
interest at the rate of twelve percent (12.0%) per annum on all sums at any time
unpaid, at                           or at such other place as the holder hereof
may designate by written notice to the Borrower, with interest from the date of
the disbursement of the loan, until paid.

          Interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each March 31, June
30, September 30 and December 31, commencing June 30, 2000. On each interest
payment date, (i) 7/12ths of the interest payable on such date shall be paid in
cash, and (ii) 5/12ths of the interest payable on such date shall be paid by the
issuance to Lender of a number of shares of common stock of Parent equal to the
amount of such interest divided by the Minimum Company Value, provided that on
each scheduled interest payment date, Lender may upon ten (10) days, prior
written notice to Parent elect not to receive such payment in shares of common
stock of Parent and instead elect to defer payment of 5/12ths of the interest
due on such scheduled interest payment date, which amount shall then be added to
the outstanding principal balance of this Note with effect as of such payment
date. Interest shall be calculated on a 365 day basis on the unpaid principal
balance for the actual days outstanding. For purposes of the foregoing, "Minimum
Company Value" shall be the same amount determined as the Minimum Company Value
in accordance with the provisions of the Warrants attached to the Loan Agreement
(defined below) as Exhibit B (initially $4.50 per share).


<PAGE>   6

         The entire unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest and all other
indebtedness shall be due and payable on the earliest of (i) the first
anniversary of this Note, (ii) the date on which (A) Parent's cash and cash
equivalents fall below $40.0 million, or (B) Parent's board of directors
authorizes any action which would cause Parent's cash and cash equivalents to
fall below $40.0 million, (iii) the effective date, immediately after the
effective time, of any merger or consolidation of Parent, (iv) a transfer of
more than 50% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Parent (if
immediately after the transfer the transferee has control of Parent), or (v) a
sale of substantially all of the assets of Parent.

         Until all indebtedness of Borrower to Lender under this Note has been
paid in full, Parent shall furnish to Lender monthly on or before the 5th
business day of each month during the term of this Note a statement setting
forth Parent's cash and cash equivalents as of the last day of the preceding
month. If at any time during the term of this Note Parent's cash and cash
equivalents fall below $42.0 million, then, until such time as Parent's cash and
cash equivalents equal or exceed $42.0 million, Parent shall furnish to Lender
by the close of business on each Wednesday a statement setting forth Parent's
cash and cash equivalents as of the last day of the preceding week.

         This Note, together with the Amended and Restated Promissory Notes of
even date herewith (the "Other Notes") executed and delivered by Borrower to the
other Lenders, as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement (the "October
Lenders"), amends and restates the Promissory Notes dated as of October 28,
1999, delivered by Borrower to the October Lenders (the "Original Notes"). This
Note and the Other Notes do not constitute the extinguishment of the debt
evidenced by the Original Notes, but represent a renewal of the Original Notes.
Any amount outstanding under the Original Notes, as of the effective date of
this Note, shall constitute an advance under this Note and the Other Notes.

         Parent granted to Lender a security interest in or lien upon all assets
of Parent as described in the Security Agreement and Assignment and Pledge
Agreement dated October 28, 1999 as security for the payment of the Promissory
Note dated October 28, 1999 delivered by the Borrower to the Lender. Such
security interest and lien continue to secure this Note. Borrower may hereafter
grant a security interest in or lien upon other assets as may be described in
any other security agreement, mortgage, or other document executed at any time
by the Borrower and delivered to the Lender (herein collectively termed
"Collateral") as security for the payment of this Note, and for the payment of
all other liabilities, whether direct, indirect, absolute or contingent, now or
hereafter existing, due to become due, several or otherwise, of the Borrower to
the Lender under the Loan Documents (as defined in the Loan Agreement) (herein
termed "Indebtedness").

         Upon an event of default under any security agreement, the Business
Loan Agreement dated October 28, 1999 between Lender, Borrower and others, as
amended by the First Amendment to Business Loan Agreement dated of even date
herewith, by and among the same parties (collectively, the "Loan Agreement"), or
any document given in connection with the Collateral, which event of default is
not cured within any applicable grace period, (i) this Note and all Indebtedness
shall, at the option of the Lender, become immediately due and payable in


                                       -2-



<PAGE>   7


full without notice, presentation or demand for payment, all such being hereby
waived by the Borrower and in such event, it is agreed that the Lender may
exercise all rights and remedies available to it under any security agreement,
hypothecation agreement, Loan Agreement, or other agreement relating to or
otherwise securing any of the Indebtedness or, which may be available to Lender
under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Michigan or other
applicable law, and (ii) this Note shall thereafter bear interest at the rate of
sixteen percent (16%) per annum until such default is cured. Delay or
forbearance by the Lender in the exercise of any right granted hereunder shall
not operate as a waiver thereof.

         A late payment fee in the amount of five percent (5.0%) of the
installment due and owing will be assessed against the Borrower in the event the
payment required hereunder is received by the Lender more than ten (10) days
after the due date.

         Provided that all interest payments on this Note shall then be current,
Borrower may prepay this Note in whole at any time or in part from time to time.
This Note is one of various promissory notes executed and delivered by Borrower
pursuant to the Loan Agreement. Borrower shall not prepay this Note in whole or
in part unless Borrower shall concurrently prepay in whole or a prorata part of
all other promissory notes originally executed and delivered by Borrower on the
same date as this Note.

         Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, it is the intent of the
Lender and Borrower that neither the Lender nor any subsequent holder shall be
entitled to receive, collect, reserve or apply, as interest, any amount in
excess of the maximum lawful rate of interest permitted to be charged by
applicable law or regulations, as amended or enacted from time to time. In the
event the Note calls for an interest payment that exceeds the maximum lawful
rate of interest then applicable, such interest shall not be received,
collected, charged, or reserved until such time as that interest, together with
all other interest then payable, falls within the applicable maximum lawful rate
of interest. In the event the Lender, or any subsequent holder, receives any
such interest in excess of the then maximum lawful rate of interest, such amount
which would be excessive interest shall be deemed a partial prepayment of
principal and treated hereunder as such, or, if the principal indebtedness
evidenced hereby is paid in full, any remaining excess funds shall immediately
be paid to the Borrower.

         Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of
dishonor and agrees that Borrower shall not be released or discharged by reason
of any release, sale or non-action with respect to the Collateral or other
undertakings securing this Note.

         The security rights of Lender and its assigns shall not be impaired by
Lender's sale, hypothecation, or rehypothecation of any Note of the Borrower or
any item of the Collateral, or by any indulgence, including but not limited to:
(i) any renewal, extension, or modification which Lender may grant with respect
to the Indebtedness or any part thereof, (ii) any surrender, compromise,
release, renewal, extension, exchange, or substitution which Lender may grant in
respect to the Collateral, or (iii) any indulgence granted in respect of any
endorser, co-maker, guarantor or surety. The purchaser, assignee, transferee, or
pledgee of this Note, the Collateral, any guarantee, and any other document (or
any of them), sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or

                                      -3-


<PAGE>   8




repledged, shall forthwith become vested with and entitled to exercise all the
powers and rights given by this Note and all Loan Documents of the undersigned
to Lender, as if said purchaser, assignee, transferee, or pledgee were
originally named as payee in this Note and in the Loan Documents.

         This Note shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to its conflict of laws
principles. Borrower expressly submits to the jurisdiction and venue in the
Federal or state courts of the State of Michigan by process served by mail on
Borrower at the address set forth above.

         This Note has been negotiated between Borrower and Lender and shall be
deemed to be mutually drafted by them.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Note has been executed by the duly
authorized officers of the Borrower.

                                       GENOMIC SOLUTIONS INC.

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------
                                           Jeffrey S. Williams, President

                                       GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, LTD

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------
                                       Its:
                                           -------------------------------

                                       GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, K.K.

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------
                                       Its:
                                           -------------------------------



                                      -4-


<PAGE>   9




                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                    AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

         This Amendment No. 1 to Subordination Agreement (this "Amendment") is
made as of March 24, 2000 by and among the Genomic Solutions, Inc., Genomic
Solutions, Ltd. and Genomic Solutions K.K., (each, a "Borrower") and, together,
(the "Borrowers"), the parties listed on the signature pages hereto as Creditors
(each "Creditor") and collectively ("Creditors") and Comerica Bank ("Bank").

                                    RECITALS

A.       The parties have entered into the Subordination Agreement dated as of
         October 28, 1999 (the "Subordination Agreement").

B.       The parties wish to amend the Subordination Agreement as provided
         herein.

         THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, and other valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledge, Bank,
Borrowers and Creditors agree as follows:

1.       The proviso following the phrase (the "Senior Indebtedness") in the
         tenth line of Section 1 of the Subordination Agreement is amended to
         read:

         provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness does not include aggregate
principal amounts at any one time outstanding in excess of the sum of (a) an
amount equal to $3,000,000 during the calendar year 1999, $6,000,000 during the
calendar year 2000, $7,000,000 during the calendar year 2001 and $8,000,000
during the calendar year 2002 and thereafter, plus (b) the aggregate principal
amount of all indebtedness owing from time to time from the Borrower to the Bank
secured by cash and/or cash equivalents to the extent such indebtedness is paid
or satisfied by such cash and/or cash equivalents.

1.       Section 20 of the Subordination Agreement is amended to add the
following additional subsection 20G.

         G. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the
Borrower closes an initial public offering on or before June 1, 2001 pursuant to
the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
proceeds of that initial public offering exceed $50,000,000 (an "IPO"), then
Creditors may ask for, demand, sue for, take or receive from Borrowers the full
outstanding principal balance of the Notes notwithstanding whether a Standstill
Notice has been given to Creditors.

2.       After an IPO, evidence of the Subordinated Indebtedness shall no longer
be required to contain the restrictive legend set forth in the second sentence
of Section 6 of the Subordination Agreement.




<PAGE>   10




3.       Except as amended by this Amendment, the terms of Subordination
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

         Executed as of the date first written above.

                    [Signatures begin on the following page]




<PAGE>   11


WHITE PINES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP I
By: White Pines G.P., L.L.C. its general
    partner

By:
   ------------------------------------
       Frederick L. Yocum, Chairman

PACIFIC CAPITAL, L.P.
By: WP Pacific G.P., L.L.C., a general
    partner

By:
   ------------------------------------
       Frederick L. Yocum, Chairman




<PAGE>   12

COMERICA BANK                                                BANK'S ADDRESS:



By:                                                          500 Woodward Avenue
   ------------------------------------                      Detroit, MI 48226
Its:
    -----------------------------------



                                BORROWER'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The undersigned ("Borrowers") accept notice of the subordination created by this
Agreement and agree that they will take no action inconsistent with this
Agreement. Borrowers agree that the Bank may, at its option, without notice and
without limiting Bank's other rights, upon any breach by Creditors holding at
least 10% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated
Indebtedness ("Material Creditors") of, or purported termination by Material
Creditors of, this Agreement, declare all ,Senior Indebtedness to be immediately
due and payable and/or terminate any commitments of Bank to Borrowers.



GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, INC.                               BORROWERS' ADDRESS

By:                                                   4355 Varsity Drive
   -------------------------------                    Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Its:
    ------------------------------


GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, LTD

By:
   -------------------------------
Its:
    ------------------------------

GENOMIC SOLUTIONS, K.K.

By:
   -------------------------------
Its:
    ------------------------------