DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1 , that figure illustrates a key aspect of the invention directed to the creation of a dry DNA transfer film for use in a DNA array test system forming one embodiment of the invention. A film/well assembly indicated generally at 10 is formed of an underlying 96 well plate 12 of rigid material of rectangular form and having a longitudinal pivot axis X—X. Within a top surface 14 of the well plate 12 , there are created a series of upwardly open, cup-shaped, cylindrical wells 16 within the well plate top surface 14 of that member in spaced, column and line fashion. The well plate is an industry standard having 96 wells in an eight by twelve matrix. In the method or process using the assembly 10 , initially DNA is separated into individual genes and replicated many times into a number of such well plates 12 . Depending on the diameter and spacing of the wells 16 , one to three 96 well plates 12 are sealed at the top 14 of the well plates commonly by an acid etched, frosted plastic film 18 or like transfer media which is both flexible and resilient, so that it attempts to maintain its flat condition as shown. At least one surface 18 b of the plastic film 18 is etched. The DNA liquid 50 preferably fills the wells 16 , with the DNA in liquid form representative of the individual genes within the many wells of the array. In the schematic embodiment shown, there is a single well and one plastic film. Typically, the film 18 is of a size 8½× 11 with rows of spaced perforations 38 along opposite lateral side edges of the plastic film 18 . The plastic film may be of a suitable material such as mylar, polyethylene, etc., and the acid etching provides a frosting to at least the surface 18 b of the plastic film 18 so that the liquid DNA will physically attach to the plastic film. The other side 18 a may be similarly etched to receive DNA dots. After the supply of liquid DNA of respective genes to wells 16 , which liquid DNA charges may not come to the top of the wells, the plastic film 18 is sealed to the top or upper surface 14 of the rigid well plate 12 . Sealing may be effected by a vacuum seal process well known in the art, or alternative means such as by using a jig or fixture which opens and locks closed and which both supports the assembly and permits the inversion of the assembly as indicated by the double headed arrow 48 , FIG. 1 , for rotation about the longitudinal horizontal axis of the well plate 12 . A foam sheet (not shown) on a cover of the assembly facing the wells may press the mylar film 18 against the well plate. After sealing of the plastic film 18 to the well plate, inversion of the assembly 10 results in gravity deposit of the liquid DNA charges 50 in each well location onto the surface 18 b of the plastic film. The frosting of that surface 18 b prevents the liquid DNA from expanding radially from the initial spot and allows additional area for physical attachment of the DNA which has a configuration and size of the well bore. Initial inversion need last for only a second or so. This is all the time necessary to effect wet spotting of the surface 18 b with the respective different DNA gene liquid charges 50 .

[0037] Almost immediately, the assembly 10 is reinverted back to the position shown in FIG. 1 . The plastic film may be exposed to the air, the liquid spots dried; thereby allowing the film to be slowly and carefully lifted from the well plate. With the DNA gene spots 50 , FIG. 4 , dried, there is formed a dry DNA transfer film. The DNA transfer film named for its likeness to carbon paper and its use of in a printer for transferring small segments of the dry DNA spots 50 over the surface 18 b of each film 18 is ready for loading onto a printer 60 such as DNA transfer film 30 , FIG. 3 . Printer 60 is comprised of a modified pin point print head 20 of block form having a face 22 within which is mounted a number of cylindrical, outwardly projectable and retractable print pins or type fonts. The print pins or font tips in the illustrated embodiment may be 250 microns in diameter and may be cylindrical in form. Tip size varies with array density. Depending on the configuration of the dry DNA dots to be positioned in column and line fashion, a number of slides as at 44 , FIG. 3 , may be borne by a slide holder 40 . The pin head or font may be rectangular rather than circular in section. Since the printing process is quite similar to a computer controlled printing apparatus in general, the principal elements of such printing apparatus for printer 60 are shown only in schematic form, FIG. 3 . In FIG. 3 , the tractor 70 is shown as having sprocket wheels 32 mounted at opposite ends of a shaft, with the sprocket wheels engaging the perforations 38 within the opposite side edges of the DNA transfer film 18 . In the exploded perspective view, the print head 20 is to the left of the tractor 70 , with the head being of L-shaped configuration including a base 26 which pivots about an axis parallel to the axes of the sprocket wheel assemblies 32 on transverse shaft or rod 54 . Additionally, the head 20 is mounted so as to move at right angles to the longitudinal axis a of the DNA transfer film 18 on a motor driven rod 52 , thus laterally as per arrow β from side-to-side of the DNA transfer film 18 . Rod 54 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis to allow imprint of a selected pin 24 against the DNA transfer film 18 . Such action may be incremental or continuous, as may be the drive θ for the tractor, FIG. 5 . Such drives are indicated schematically, FIG. 3 . A motor as at 36 is connected at 34 to a lower sprocket assembly 32 a to achieve the movement of the DNA transfer film in the direction of its axis a. Schematically, a further motor 32 b connected to the bottom of the base 26 of the print head 20 via rod 54 may cause the print head to swing clockwise towards and counter-clockwise away from the surface 18 a of the DNA transfer film 18 to position face 22 of the print head in overlying position to the DNA transfer film. The microscope slide holder 40 is positioned beneath film 18 on the tractor 70 and the slides 44 maintained in a position to receive by transfer a small segment of a DNA spot 50 , FIG. 4 , carried on the opposite surface 18 b of the DNA transfer film which immediately faces but is spaced slightly from the microscope slide holder 40 . A computer or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) operating under a program controls movement of the print head 20 , the DNA transfer film 18 and the slide holder 40 to determine the location of each closely spaced dot 45 , FIG. 3 , of DNA gene transfer film spot 50 directly onto the facing surface of a slide 44 .

[0038] The slides 44 are precoated with poly-L-lysine, or other known chemical attractant biomolecule including DNA. Thus, only light impact of the dry DNA spot 50 upon striking of one of the pins 24 of the array, FIG. 2 , such as projected pin 24 a, is required to ensure transfer of a sufficient amount of the DNA from the film spot 50 to a slide 44 upon impact of the printer 20 pin head 24 . In the typical printer, the print head therefore travels horizontally, while the tractor riding on an infinite servo motor moves the DNA transfer film 18 vertically, i.e., at right angles as per β. The DNA gene array transferred from the DNA transfer film to the slide is only limited by the size of the slide itself. The slide size is only limited by the reader capacity of the system. Preferably, the slide holder and the slides 44 thereon are not in contact with the surface 18 b , but under computer or CPU control raised to lie immediately beneath the surface 18 b of the DNA transfer film 18 , just prior to projection of the print head pin 24 in a limited, light contact with the surface 18 a opposite a dry DNA dot 50 on slide facing surface 18 b . Such system under computer or CPU control is capable of pin point transfer of minute surface area dots of DNA directly onto the facing side of the glass slides. Minute shifting of the print head 20 relative to the DNA transfer film 18 and its tractor 70 is effected after each cycle of printing, that is, for a given DNA spot 50 , vertically and/or horizontally so that the DNA transfer film may be used over and over again. The sequence of alignment and thus print pin impact position on the opposite face 18 a of the spot 50 in FIG. 4 illustrates shifts laterally; at one, two, diagonally; from two to three, laterally; three, four, five and six, diagonally; from six to seven, and laterally through eight and nine. Only nine of the incremental shifts of the print head relative to the DNA transfer film are shown in FIG. 4 , since the numerals ten, eleven and twelve have been used elsewhere in the drawings. Further, the computer or central processing unit may effectively track all of the individual DNA transfer films for the number of times it has been used, and the use is through a controlled sequence of shifts such as that illustrated partially in FIG. 4 . Preferably, the print head is moved to a new starting position slightly offset from the last for each time the film is reused in accordance with the schematic illustration at FIG. 4 .

[0039] While not in use, the DNA transfer film may be stored under refrigeration at temperatures ranging from a +4° C. to −80° C. (depending on solvent and concentration). While the illustrated embodiment employs 3×1″ glass slides, such microscopic slides may be larger such as 6×2″, 4×8″, etc. Theoretically, under the system illustrated and described, there may be in the neighborhood of 400,000 DNA gene dots on the glass slide, very closely spaced and generally in column and line fashion. Alternatively, the dots may be in staggered rows, not columns, as such allows greater dot array density. Since the DNA transfer film is flexible and resilient, there is only localized deformation of the mylar, polyethylene or other like material film, sufficient to bring the fraction of DNA spot 50 into contact with the glass slide 44 surface depositing the feature 45 . Since that slide surface is coated with poly-L-lysine, there is both a physical and chemical transfer of the DNA from spot 50 on the DNA transfer film 18 onto the glass slide. The affinity of the poly-L-lysine for DNA ensures sufficient and consistent concentration of the DNA transferred to create a test dot or “feature” 45 as such dot is known in the industry. Once the array of DNA dots is created on the slide or slides of the holder 40 , the slides are removed, and the completed array is bathed in a solution of two or more fluoresces labeled total genomic tags. These tags hybridize (bind) to a particular gene on the array and each time they bind the fluorescence signal becomes linearly stronger.

[0040] Under a fully automated system, a modified fluorescence microscope connected to the computer may automatically read each location on the array and measure the intensity of its signal and the identity of the signal being produced. By further computer correlations of data points, one may determine the relationships between any two cell types and a third variable (drug), or the same cell types between one variable or more.

[0041] The system of the present invention has significant utility in the medical field, the health industry in general and the pharmaceutical industry, both in terms of manufacture and use or detection and treatment of medical disease. The print process of the instant system takes a significant shorter period of time to create the dry DNA dot arrays on slides such as slides 44 , thereby completing such arrays in minutes rather than days that occur with the systems currently creating arrays utilizing the wet technique where the DNA in wet form is deposited directly onto the microscope slides. Since the dry DNA transfer films can be stored indefinitely, the array is quickly reproducible without lengthy reactions.

[0042] In the past, arrays a.k.a. micro arrays, industry term of stored DNA dots or features required constant cleaning of the array apparatus to deter contamination of the array. In the system of the invention, the projected pins do not touch the DNA, but are isolated therefrom by the mylar transfer film, or like media. In systems where the DNA is transferred in liquid form onto the microscope glass slides, all elements coming into contact with the liquid DNA require periodic and constant cleaning. Further, by utilizing the frosted mylar or similar plastic film material, there is virtually no spread of the liquid DNA in the formation of the individual spots 50 on the frosted surface of the mylar film, or after removal of the DNA transfer film 18 from the well plate during the drying of the spots 50 . The density using the illustrated embodiment is quite high. With eight rows of twelve samples of DNA per row using a 24-pin print head 20 , one obtains 288 DNA spots 50 on a single mylar sheet by using three of the 96 well plates. With the use of additional mylar sheets, easily a total of >7200 DNA dot combinations may be effected on two side-by-side glass slides 44 within a common slide holder like that at 40 , using the setup of FIGS. 3 and 5 . Further, in the creation of the DNA transfer film 18 , automatic record keeping is facilitated since one may readily type data onto the reverse side of the mylar film, i.e. the date of the test, time, identification of the subject, type of test, etc. Not only does one have a thorough record of the test work done, but the actual proofs as a result of testing are attached as dry DNA content to the opposite side of the mylar film. All of this is done without the mess of dealing with liquid DNA, except in the first instant in a highly effective and quick manner producing the initial DNA spot form transfer sheets and then employing a conventional automated printing apparatus such as that at FIGS. 3, 5 , to effectively transfer the dry DNA content to the glass slide in a form to permit ready optical testing for mutant content, etc. The flow diagram described in this specification is set forth in chart form as Chart A hereafter. 1

[0043] Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is shown an apparatus 100 for making dry DNA transfer sheets in accordance with the present invention, and in the manner generally depicted in FIG. 1 . The apparatus 100 consists essentially of a table 110 having a horizontal base 112 , from which extends upwardly and longitudinally centered between the ends of a pair of laterally spaced legs 114 pivotably mounting a table top 120 via a horizontal table top hinge pin 128 extending through table top vertical extension or raised end 124 and each leg 114 . A fixed, vertically upright stop 116 underlies the table top 120 near the end of the table top 120 remote from the hinged pivot connection to legs 114 . The fixed stop 116 is of a vertical height such that it abuts the bottom surface 120 b of the table top to support the table top in a horizontal position. To the opposite side of the table 110 is pivotably mounted a pivotable stop 118 which is pivoted at its lower end via pivot pin 119 . The pivotable stop 118 is centered laterally on the base 112 . The pivotable stop 118 rises to a vertical height above that of fixed stop 116 . A hinged cover 122 overlies the table top 120 and is hinged to the table top raised edge 124 by screws or like fasteners (not shown) and to a side edge of cover 122 . The hinge 130 permits the cover 122 to be rotated from a position overlying the table top 120 through 180° to an oppositely directed horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 , and in solid lines in FIG. 7 . As such, the apparatus cover rotates like a book into a full open position, FIG. 7 . Because of the location of the hinge 130 , the top surface 122 A comes into contact with the top surface of the movable stop 118 when the movable stop is rotated from its inclined dotted line position shown in FIG. 6 at 118 ′ to its full line position. A lower face 122 B of cover 122 carries a rectangular recess which receives a foam sponge rectangular sheet 123 sized on the order of a dry DNA transfer sheet formed of mylar or other material as described in this specification. Projecting downwardly from the bottom surface 122 B of the cover 122 are a number of dry DNA transfer sheet location pins 134 , at least one at each of the four corners of mylar dry DNA transfer sheet 18 for overlying the three side-by-side well plates 12 . Plates 12 as seen in FIG. 7 are received within spaced parallel grooves 140 opening outwardly at one end of table 120 and within the table top 120 A and sized slightly larger than the width of the elongated well plates 12 . The well plates are positioned within the grooves 140 so as to be appropriately positioned to align with the common mylar dry DNA transfer sheet 18 . A pair of laterally spaced projections 122 C are carried by cover 122 near the lateral center line of the table cover 122 defining a slot which receives a pivotable thumb screw assembly 142 including a shank pivotably mounted at its lower end to an outboard edge of the table top 120 via pivot pin 144 . The assembly 142 includes a wing nut 143 which when unscrewed from the position shown in FIG. 6 allows the shank to pivot outwardly as shown in FIG. 7 to release the cover and permit its shifting from the full line position of FIG. 6 to the dotted line position in that figure and the full line position in FIG. 7 . The two basic components, therefore, consisting of table 120 and cover 122 open like a book from the condition shown in FIG. 6 to that of FIG. 7 . The apparatus 100 further comprises as seen in FIG. 7 a vacuum groove 136 within the bottom surface 122 B of cover 122 connected to a source of vacuum indicated by an arrow V, FIG. 7 , via vacuum line 138 . With the apparatus open like a book, FIG. 7 , mylar dry DNA transfer sheets 18 may be sequentially mounted via the perforations therein onto location pins along opposite sides of the vacuum groove and exterior of the same so that the bottom surface of the mylar sheet or film 118 is in contact with the bottom face 122 B of cover 122 . Application of vacuum pressure by vacuum source V causes the mylar sheet 18 to be maintained in exact desired position, whereupon with one, several or all of the wells of the well plates 12 being loaded with liquid DNA (or other, similar solutions), the cover 122 is pivoted counterclockwise from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6 to the full line position. At this point, the pivotable thumb screw assembly 142 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 7 to a vertical upright position, and the wing nut 143 rotated on threaded shank so as to clamp the cover 122 and thus the mylar sheet 18 against the upper surface of the upright open well plate 12 , compressing the sponge sheet 123 to effect a seal between the inverted top surface of the mylar film 18 and well plate 12 . A fixed assembly is achieved, i.e. table top 120 and cover 122 , corresponding in principle to that of film/well plate assembly 10 , illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 . The assembly is rotated clockwise via hinge pins 128 after pivoting pivotable stop 118 from its full line vertical position to a dotted line inclined position 118 ′, FIG. 6 , the result of which is to cause the liquid DNA within given wells 16 of the three well plates 12 to make physical contact with the facing surface of the mylar sheet 18 and forming distinct, relatively large diameter, spaced dots. Thereafter, the rigid assembly of the cover 122 and the table top 120 is pivoted counterclockwise about the axis of hinge pins 128 back to the position shown in FIG. 6 , whereupon the pivotable thumb screw assembly 140 is released by rotating the wing nut 143 oppositely on the threaded stem of that apparatus to loosen the lock which, after pivoting from a vertical to a horizontal position, permits the now released cover to be rotated clockwise again to the extent of the dotted line position of FIG. 6 and full line position of FIG. 7 . The wet DNA spotted transfer sheet 18 may either be dried in place, or removed for drying with the apparatus ready to repeat the process to create a series of multiple mylar dry DNA transfer sheets.

[0044] Referring further to FIGS. 8, 9 , 10 and 11 , an additional embodiment of the invention utilizes an apparatus indicated generally at 200 , FIGS. 10 and 11 . Apparatus 200 has some common components to the apparatus at 100 of the prior described embodiment and functions to produce a series of DNA transfer sheets by using a different technique.

[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates perspectively one of three identical well plates with individual upwardly open wells 16 , one of which at the left bottom corner has positioned within the interior of this U-shaped upwardly opening cavity a self-actuated dispensing valve indicated generally at 250 and forming the principal component of this further embodiment of the invention. The dispensing valve 250 in accordance with FIG. 9 is comprised of a cylindrical valve body 252 having an axial bore 254 of relatively small diameter and a large diameter counterbore 256 which opens outwardly at the opposite end of the cylindrical body 252 . The valve body 252 has opposed faces 260 and 262 and an outer cylindrical wall 258 . It houses internally a movable valve member or plunger indicated generally at 264 consisting essentially of a small diameter stem 264 A enlarged intermediate of its ends by a conical shaped valve stopper 264 B. The stopper 264 B is radially larger than the diameter of bore 254 . The body 250 includes a shallow axial recess 278 within end face 260 . A radial circumferential recess 276 extends over a portion of the axial length of body 252 from face 262 , within the outer peripheral wall 258 of that member. Additionally, a circular groove 272 of short depth and short axial height is formed within the larger diameter portion of body 252 , within which may be fitted an O-ring 274 , sealing body 252 with the inner peripheral wall of the well 16 within which it is received, FIG. 8 . Near the open end of counterbore 256 , an interior groove 253 receives a triangular plan shaped stem guide and fill plate provided with a small diameter axial bore 255 through which stem 264 A projects. A compression coil spring 270 is interposed between guide plate 255 and the conical valve stopper 264 B biasing the stopper 264 B to valve closed position, with the tapered portion of the valve stopper in contact with a valve seat 282 defined by bore 254 .

[0046] Once the valves 250 are in place in the respective wells 16 of well plate 12 , FIG. 8 , the well plate acts as a dispensing mechanism for the liquid DNA. As seen in FIG. 8 , the projecting tip 284 of the movable valve member or plunger 264 extends outwardly beyond a ring stopper 286 defined by axial recess 260 which acts as a downward stop against an upper surface of a mylar dry DNA transfer sheet or similar media, when one or more well plates 12 utilizing the dispensing valves 250 are employed with the apparatus of FIGS. 10 and 11 .

[0047] With the liquid charges within the wells 16 of well plate 12 , the dispensing valves 250 are upturned from the position shown in FIG. 9 and inserted into the upwardly open wells to the extent of the axial length of the outer peripheral recess 276 within valve body 250 and defining a circular shoulder 277 . Preferably, annular groove 272 on the outer periphery of the cylindrical valve body 252 carrying O-ring seal 274 prevents leakage of the liquid DNA from the individual cells between the valve body 252 and the sidewalls of the cells 16 carrying the dispensing valves 250 .

[0048] The apparatus 200 depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 permits predetermined volumes of DNA liquid to be dispensed through the dispensing valves onto the upper surface of a mylar dry DNA transfer sheet 18 as in the previous illustrated embodiment. The apparatus 200 includes a table indicated generally at 210 . Table 210 includes a table top 214 supported by short height legs or feet 212 at the four corners in similar fashion to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 . A vacuum line 242 connects to a vacuum groove 240 within the top surface 214 A of the table top and may be coupled to a source of vacuum at 243 for holding down and in place on the table top a mylar dry DNA transfer sheet located by way of location pins 220 prior to vacuum application. Laterally spaced risers 216 provide a hinge connection to one end of a pivotable well plate holder 224 , via an elongated hinge pin 226 passing through respective risers 216 adjacent their upper ends and the end of well plate holder 224 . As such, well plate holder 224 is mounted for rotation through an arc of approximately 180° from the position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 so that the upper surface 224 A comes into contact with the upper end of a fixed stop 222 mounted to the upper face 214 A of the table top, at some distance to the right of risers 216 . This permits freedom to properly position the mylar dry transfer sheet 18 in the position in FIGS. 11, 12 for receiving spaced drops or volumes of liquid DNA of the DNA solution to form the appropriate spot on the surface of the film 18 . After mounting of the film 18 to the table top, the hinge well plate holder is rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in the drawing FIGS. 10, 11 . The end of the hinge well plate holder 224 opposite that of the hinge connection via hinge pin 226 is provided with a U-shaped slot 225 for receiving a reduced diameter threaded portion 232 of a pivoted locking pin 231 forming an element of thumb screw assembly 230 . The locking pin 231 is pivotably mounted via a transverse pivot pin 237 to the table top 214 via a pair of laterally spaced ears 236 . A thumb screw locking knob 234 having a tapped axial bore is threaded to the reduced diameter threaded portion of locking pin 231 . The bottom surface 224 B of the well plate holder 224 rests on a shoulder or stop 233 at a point along the locking pin 231 to maintain the hinged well plate holder spaced some distance above the upper surface 214 A of the table top 214 and in a horizontal position. Three laterally spaced rectangular holes or openings 238 are formed within the hinged well plate holder 224 , the openings 238 being sized to reduced width base portions 12 ′A of the well plates 12 ′ as seen in FIG. 8 . Grooves 239 are formed within the top longitudinal side edges of the well plate 12 ′, thereby defining laterally opposite flanges 239 along the sides of the well plate. Thus, a portion of the well plate 12 ′ adjacent to the upper surface of that element is narrower than the portion proximate to the bottom of the well plate. The flanges 239 function as stops to limit the extent of vertical movement of the well plates 12 ′ when the reduced width portions are inserted within respective holes or openings 238 within the well plate holder 224 . Initially, the well plates 12 ′ are gently lowered into the openings or holes 238 to the extent where the tips 284 of plungers 264 contact the upper surface of the mylar sheet 18 as per FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, there is no need to flip flop the well plates 12 ′ to deposit liquid DNA on the mylar film by gravity deposition. When the tips 284 of the stoppers 264 touch the mylar film, all that is required is a slight downward pressure applied to the well plates, which may be manually or automatically effected to cause the radially enlarged tapered well stoppers to move away from their valve seats 282 , thereby permitting the DNA solution L to escape from counterbore 256 of each valve body 252 for each valve 250 . Simultaneously, circular ring stop 286 of the valve body abuts the upper surface of the mylar film 18 , with the liquid DNA in this embodiment filling a cavity defined by the vertical height B of recess 260 and the interior diameter A of the ring stop 286 . Exact, minute precise dimensions are required for the valve member to effect a small liquid charge deposit by each of the dispensing valves 250 capable of spot wetting of the transfer media. Alternatively, the volumetric control of the liquid DNA charge at each spot location on the mylar transfer film 18 may be determined by the extent of time that the dispensing valve 250 is open and determined by the dimensions of the flow paths defined by the stopper 264 and the axial bore 254 within the valve body 252 .

[0049] Once the spot wetting of the mylar sheet is accomplished, the pressure applied to the well plates is terminated and the valves reclose. The valves 250 automatically close due to the force of the compression coil spring interposed on the stem 264 A with the plunger 264 closing on valve seat 282 for each valve. Thus, even when the well plate 12 ′ is inverted from the position shown in FIG. 8 , no leakage will occur. Thus, dispensing of a liquid volume is carefully controlled with resealing of the liquid DNA within counterbore 256 of the valve member at the termination of the spot wetting of the mylar 18 .

[0050] Further, upon release of pressure on the three well plates 12 A, the thumb screw 234 may be backed off and loosened to the extent permitting pin 31 to be rotated from a vertical upright position, FIG. 10 , to a horizontal position, freeing the hinged well plate holder 224 . This permits its rotation clockwise to the extent of permitted by fixed stop 222 and allowing access to the exposed mylar sheet 18 for drying prior to removal or for removing and subsequent drying of the liquid DNA spots after their creation. With the hinged well plate holder pivoted clockwise out of the way of the mylar sheet area, a new mylar sheet 18 may be positioned via the pins 220 and vacuum pressure reapplied to the succeeding sheet.

[0051] FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention, in which a well plate 12 ′ identical to that at 12 ′, FIG. 8 , is employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 11 and 12 as depicted or with slight modifications thereto. In this embodiment, the top face 12 ′B comes into close proximity to an underlying mylar dry DNA transfer sheet 18 to allow a thin layer of liquid DNA film on a special dripless applicator wick 290 , FIG. 14 , to make contact with the upper surface of the mylar film 18 and to create a circular spot corresponding to the diameter of the applicator wick. The inverted T-shaped well plate 12 ′ of FIG. 12 is provided with a plurality of cup-shaped wells 16 in a column and line fashion. A singular well is shown in FIG. 12 as receiving an applicator wick 290 , the cross-section of which is shown in FIG. 14 . The applicator wick 290 is of cylindrical form, having an outside diameter slightly larger than the inside diameter of a well 16 and having a length so as to project into the liquid DNA charge L. A radially projecting circular rib 294 is integral with the cylindrical body 292 forming a stop to define a precise axially projected position for the wick upper surface 290 A so as to create through capillary wicking action passage of the liquid DNA or DNA solution onto the outer axial surface 290 A of the applicator wick. This achieves permitting a DNA solution blotting action upon inversion of the well plate 12 ′ and placement into position above the mylar sheet 18 , FIG. 10 , in place of the well plate 12 ′ carrying the dispensing valves 250 of the prior described embodiment of FIGS. 8-11 . The dimensions of the well plate and the dimensions of the applicator wick for each well 16 are such that a slight depression of the inverted one or more well plates 12 ′ causes momentary contact of at least the liquid DNA film 290 on the axial outer surface 290 A of the applicator wick with the facing surface of the mylar film 18 at each well position 16 on the well plate carrying an applicator wick 290 and being loaded with liquid DNA in accordance with the showing in FIG. 14 . The volume of the well is defined by the bottom surface of the disc 290 B.

[0052] The sequence of events using the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 12-14 is the same as that for the prior embodiment, utilizing the dispensing valve 250 within each selected well 16 , by employing the apparatus of FIG. 10 . The well plate holder is initially pivoted clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 10 so that its end remote from the pivot axis of pin 226 lies in contact with the upper surface of stop 222 . A mylar sheet such as that at 18 is positioned on the upper surface 214 A of the table top and positioned by way of position pins 220 in the manner of the prior embodiment. The well plate holder 224 is then rotated counterclockwise ( 217 depiction of angular rotation) 180° to overlie the mylar sheet 18 . The well plate holder may be locked in position using mechanism 230 as in the prior embodiment, and preferably three identical well plates with DNA liquid within the wells 16 and closed off by the applicator wicks 292 , penetrating the well to a fixed point controlled by flange 294 , are inverted from the condition shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 and placed in respective holes or openings 238 , with the flanges 239 limiting that insertion action, but placing the axially outer surfaces 290 A of the applicator wick immediately above or in contact with the facing surface of the mylar film 18 , whereupon the liquid DNA due to the porosity of the foam material or other wick material making up the applicator wick 292 causes a thin layer of liquid DNA to form as a film as at 290 which is blotted off as a result of momentary contact between the applicator wick 290 A and the facing surface of the mylar film 18 with like spaced liquid DNA spots being formed over the face of the mylar film in mirror image fashion to the wells 16 which are actively supplied with liquid DNA prior to insertion of the applicator wicks 292 . The applicator wicks therefore perform two functions, one sealing the liquid DNA within the well 16 in the volume not occupied by the wick body 292 and facilitating by capillary action a constant replenishment of the liquid DNA film 290 on the axially outer surface 290 A of the applicator wick. Upon completion of wet spotting, the locking mechanism is loosened and rotated out of the way of the pivotable well plate holder 224 . Thereafter, the holder with the well plates 12 ′ can be rotated through a 180° arc clockwise until the top of the well plate holder contacts the upper end of fixed stop 222 upon which it rests, allowing the operator to remove the now wet DNA spotted mylar film 18 and replace it with a new succeeding sheet. The removed sheet upon drying forms a dry DNA transfer sheet which may be used in the printing apparatus as described with the prior embodiment, or stored under appropriate temperature prior to such printing use.

[0053] It should be apparent that changes and modification may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. For instance, the printing apparatus as shown in FIGS. 2-5 evidences only one type of commercially available printing apparatus capable of utilizing the dry DNA transfer media in sheet form, endless loop form, tape form, rigid substrate form or otherwise, and which a printing apparatus may achieve imprinting of DNA particles sized to the print font or print pin dimensions by impacting the back face of the print media carrying the dry DNA spots to create a DNA dot of micron size onto the facing surface of an underlying substrate. Impact printing involves force plus movement. Alternatively, pressure plus movement such as by rubbing may be employed to transfer dry DNA spot material from a transfer media onto the facing surface of a rigid glass substrate such as a glass slide or the like.

[0054] It should also be apparent that while the invention has been described in detail with several embodiments utilizing a mylar sheet or film whose surfaces are roughened to receive the liquid DNA charge using the apparatus within the drawing figures, such print media may be constituted by a flexible tape carried by and movable between a feed and take-up spool. A transfer media may take the form of a porous sheet of paper which incorporates means for preventing radial dispersion of liquid DNA in forming the dry transfer media radially from one liquid DNA spot to another. Such porous paper type print media may be constituted by a laminate structure having circular areas sized and located corresponding to the respective wells providing the liquid DNA to achieve multiple spots in staggered or columnar and line fashion using the apparatus of the present invention. Alternatively, a porous paper sheet may be embossed with circular rings sized to the diameter of the wells of the well plate and in like numbers, with the embossments preventing the radial dispersion of the liquid DNA through the porous paper beyond the dimension of the indentation corresponding to the well diameter of the wells within the well plate. Such porous print media is seen as similar, but not identical to carbon paper, with the carbon surface content being physically equivalent to the dry DNA spots on the dry DNA transfer sheet. The porous paper form of dry DNA transfer media can be formed of a porous material which impedes radial dispersion of the liquid DNA spots during and subsequent to spot formation and prior to drying of the same. Drying may be accomplished by exposure to air, hot air drying, or infrared radiation to speed up the process of the creation of the dry DNA transfer media.

[0055] It should be kept in mind that while the specification and claims recite a DNA wet solution and dry DNA spots and dots, respectively, the claims and the invention are not limited thereto, but broadly cover the utilization of and transfer of a concentrated solution of DNA, RNA, protein and biomolecule from one or more well plates or other container to an appropriate transfer media utilizing as an imprinting substrate any type of porous paper, film, flexible resilient sheet, or rigid substrate that inherently or by way of treatment or modification will bleed liquid, i.e. the concentrated solution in a Z direction, while inhibiting or limiting bleed laterally or radially, with that substrate preferably being an acid etched polymer film such as mylar. Further, while the printing mechanism, which is schematically illustrated in the drawings and described in some detail in the specification, uses a motor driven tractor to drive a transfer media in sheet or endless loop form via sprockets having radially projecting pins whose ends insert into holes along the sides of the transfer sheet or endless loop, movement of the dry DNA transfer media may be effected by a position control through the use of laser beam or light locating means to facilitate by lateral movement of a print head bearing multiple projectable pins or type font such that a given quantity of the DNA, RNA, protein or other biomolecule dry spot on the transfer media is mechanically transferred by impact force or rubbing pressure onto a facing glass substrate which in turn may be shifted towards and away from the dry DNA transfer media.

[0056] Further, while vacuum grooves and vacuum application is illustrated as a means for maintaining the position of the ink printing substrate, other means such as mechanical clamping may be employed to ensure sealing of that member to the face of the well plate or an array of well plates prior to the transfer step. While preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the claims, with the latter being defined by the appended claims. Further, all features described in the specification, recited in the ensuing claims and shown in the drawings, may be essential to the invention, either individually or in any arbitrary combination with one another.

[0057] It should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrative only and modifications and variations in content of the embodiment and in the process steps in the production of the components of the dry DNA array system would occur to those of skill in this art without deviating from the invention. Within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described or shown above.