FISH is a powerful and fast technique to detect focal DNA sequence alterations in cells and tissues. Labelled DNA probes linked to fluorescent molecule hybridise to complementary sequence of the DNA. Thereafter, fluorescent spots are visualised and counted by fluorescence microscopy. This tool has an intermediate resolution between the karyotype and techniques of molecular genetics.
Main applications and advantages
Various types of probes available:
- Locus specific probes
- Centromeric probes
- Telomeric probes
- Whole chromosome probes
Various types of matrix:
- Fixed metaphase and interphase cell preparations
- Smears
- Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue
Equipment
- Metafer Scanning and Imaging Platform (MetaSystems)
- ThermoBrite Elite System for FISH Slide Preparation (Leica)
Detection
Detection of copy number alterations or rearrangements of a specific genomic region.