The always dynamic field of genomics has entered an era of rapid change. Numerous instrument manufacturers are launching “next generation” platforms which are opening up new research vistas and providing unlimited possibilities.

An example of this changing landscape can be seen by the way in which platforms that have traditionally been devoted to a single research area (e.g., genotyping or expression analysis) that are now being used for a wide array of investigations. Researchers can now consider pursuing genotyping, expression analysis, sequencing, cytosine methylation status (an important indicator in cancer-related samples), copy number variation, and protein-binding site investigations on the same platform. The driving force in equipment selection has now become based on throughput, cost, and researcher preference rather than on platforms devoted to specific methodologies.