Methods of macromolecular analysis using nanochannel arrays

A method of detecting a copy number abnormality in a genome of interest, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first sample comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid molecules of the genome of interest;
• labeling one or more regions, including at least a first region, of the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the genome of interest;
• translocating at least a portion of at least the first region of each of the labeled isolated nucleic acid molecules through a fluidic nanochannel segment disposed substantially parallel to a substrate surface, wherein the fluidic nanochannel segment is capable of containing and elongating at least a portion of the region of the nucleic acid, and wherein the fluidic nanochannel segment has a characteristic cross-sectional dimension of less than about 1000 nm and a length of at least about 10 nm, wherein said translocating comprises introducing the labeled isolated nucleic acid molecules into separate fluidic nannochannel segments each having a cross-sectional diameter of less than about 200 nm so as to at least substantially linearize at least a part of the labeled nucleic acid molecules;
• during said translocating, capturing through a viewing window a total length of time that signals corresponding to each first region of the labeled individual isolated nucleic acid molecules of the genome of interest are detected through the viewing window, said total length of time correlating to the speed at which said labeled isolated nucleic acid molecules move through the fluidic nanochannel segment, thereby ascertaining a length of nucleic acids corresponding to the first region;
• and
• comparing the total length of time of signals of each first region of the labeled individual isolated nucleic acid molecules of the genome of interest to a total length of time of signals of a control, whereby a copy number of at least the first region of the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the genome of interest is ascertained from the comparing of lengths of time.