Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the likelihood of GI tract dysbiosis in a subject, said method comprising providing a test data set, wherein said test data set comprises at least one microbiota profile, said microbiota profile being a profile of the relative levels of a plurality of microorganisms or groups of microorganisms in a sample from the GI tract of the subject and wherein each level of each microorganism or group of microorganisms is a profile element of said test data set, applying to said test data set at least one loading vector determined from latent variables within the profiles of the levels of said plurality of microorganisms or groups of microorganisms in corresponding GI tract samples from a plurality of normal subjects, thereby producing a first projected data set, applying to said first projected data set a transposed version of said at least one loading vector, thereby producing a second projected data set, comparing said test data set with said second projected data set a

Abstract: Oligonucleotide probes for use in assessing gene transcript levels in a sample, which may be used in analytical techniques, particularly diagnostic techniques, are disclosed. Conveniently the probes are provided in kit form. Different sets of probes may be used in techniques to prepare gene expression patterns and identify, diagnose or monitor neurodegenerative diseases or conditions and their progression.

Abstract: The invention provides a set of oligonucleotide probes specific to cancer, preferably breast cancer, kits containing them and their use in preparing standard and test patterns and methods of diagnosis of cancer, preferably breast cancer.