Programmed cell death (PCD) is a process by which cells commit suicide. It is essential for development and maintaining appropriate cell number, but when misregulated can lead to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. At the GSC, the Functional Genomics/Programmed Cell Death group is interested in studying the genes involved in PCD in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly), and the related genes that are involved in the development of cancer. My approach has been to perform bioinformatic analysis of large-scale gene expression data, specifically SAGE and microarray data, from Drosophila and from human normal and cancer tissues. I will discuss the methods used and issues arising in this analysis, and some of the biological implications.