Fluorescent In-Situ
Hybridization (FISH) identification of
Human
Chromosomes -
"Chromosome Painting"
DNA probes
specific to regions of
particular chromosomes are
attached
to fluorescent markers and hybridized with a chromosome spread. The
picture
shows a computer-generated "false colour"
image, in which small
variations
in fluorescence wavelength among probes are enhanced as distinct
primary
colours. The combination of probes that hybridize to a particular
chromosome
produces a unique pattern for each chromosome. This makes it
particularly easy to detect segmental deletions and translocations
among chromosomes.
Text
& image © 2008 by Steven M. Carr, after original by
Genetix, with permission