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 of an ordered set
of human chromosomes 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