NOVELTY - Apparatus (I) for analyzing temperature-dependent molecular configuration, comprises a multi-lane chip (10) having several channels (12) extending along its length, each channel being arranged for the passage of molecules to be analyzed, and heating elements (14) associated with the chip for creating temperature profile along the channels, thereby exposing molecules passing along the channels to corresponding temperature variations.    USE - The method is useful for analyzing temperature-dependent molecular configurations of macro-molecules, preferably proteins, where the molecular folding, molecular bonding or molecular stability of the proteins is analyzed, as a function of temperature, and the method includes the step of using the detected optical characteristics to determine the folding pattern, or sequence of folding events, of the molecule. Optionally, the method involves using the detected optical characteristics to identify the residues (amino acids) of the molecule (preferably proteins) involved in folding. The method is also useful for temperature-dependent molecular configurations of a protein/biological factor or protein/protein complex. The biological factor is a sugar, hormone, ligand, receptor or nucleic acid. The method is useful for determining the domains necessary for interaction of a protein with a biological factor or protein, and for the design of therapeutic agents, where the method includes passing the native protein/biological factor or protein/protein complex along a control channel, adjacent to the channel carrying the protein/candidate therapeutic agent complex to be analyzed, detecting a corresponding optical characteristic or characteristics of the native protein/biological factor or protein/protein complex, and comparing the optical characteristic or characteristics of the protein/candidate therapeutic agent complex to be analyzed with the corresponding optical characteristic or characteristics. The method is also useful for analyzing a recombinant protein, where the control molecule is the native protein, and the molecule to be analyzed is the recombinant protein; for identifying a polymorphism (e.g. single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)) in a protein, where the method comprises comparing the detected optical characteristics of a wild-type protein with the detected optical characteristics of a candidate protein; for determining whether a protein is a wild-type or variant, which involves comparing the detected optical characteristics of the protein with those of the wild-type or variant protein; for identifying polymorphisms associated with disease, which involves comparing the detected optical characteristics of a molecule from a non-diseased individual with the detected optical characteristics of the corresponding molecule from a diseased individual; and for diagnosing an individual as having, or being susceptible to, disease which involves comparing the detected optical characteristics of a molecule from the individual with the detected optical characteristics of the form of the molecule known to be associated with the disease. For diagnosis, the molecule to be analyzed is from a sample removed from a human or animal body (all claimed).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for analyzing temperature-dependent molecular configurations, involves defining a temperature profile along the length of a channel, passing molecules to be analyzed along the channel, detecting an optical characteristic of the molecules as they pass along the channel, and analyzing the detected optical characteristic as a function of temperature.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the apparatus for analyzing molecular folders.    multi-lane chip (10)    channels (12)    heating elements (14)    UV source (22)    optical detector (24)    computer analysis unit (26)    output (30)    apparatus control (32)