In 1997 researchers were able to find the exact combination of genes in a yeast cell in 51 hours, a procedure that once took years, with the use of a single gene chip. They simply ordered a chip with every gene known to exist in the yeast, collected their sample, and waited to see where the lights lit up. Correlative studies between organisms with differing traits have been made infinitely more accessible. Researchers could use the gene chip to make comparisons between the mRNA levels of the two species. Such comparisons could tell them which combinations of genes determine alcohol tolerance, and if desired, allow them to genetically alter the strains of yeast used for brewing beer to make beer with a much higher amount of alcohol.
Caveats There are still several problems with the technology behind gene chips.
One such problem is that they measure mRNA levels. This information is an indication of gene expression, and not necessarily an indicator of protein levels. Proteins are the key component for most investigations in that they are the end products of gene expression. Furthermore, if the genes are not currently being expressed or being transcribed with mRNA during the period of analysis, then they will not be detectable with gene chip technology. Another problem with the technology is called transcription bias.