The first step is to build a short DNA strand — a probe — representing a unique goose sequence onto the surface of a glass plate. This short strand represents only a small section of a much larger gene.

The short probe sequence is selected to specifically match a small 17 base pair section of goose-specific DNA. And if a DNA molecule binds to the probe, researchers will know that goose DNA was present, because the only match possible is from goose DNA — it would not be from cow, pig, chicken or any of the 32 species represented on the FoodExpert-ID Array.