Microscopic examination of the DNA using the FISH method

Microscopic examination of the DNA using the FISH method

The method of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) enables the detection and characterization of numerical and structural chromosomal changes and is used in addition to conventional cytogenetics or it is used to identify the ribosomal DNA of bacteria and other pathogens. The aim of the method is to bind DNA probes, marked with a fluorescent dye, to the chromosomal DNA of the patient or the pathogen and thereby mark individual chromosome sections under the microscope in color and make any chromosome changes or chromosome building blocks visible and determine them. A fluorescence microscope, which is best suited for this purpose, is used for this examination

Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) enables the visualisation of chromosomal abnormalities in humans or bacterial ribosomal DNA using DNA probes labelled with fluorescent dyes. A fluorescence microscope is the instrument of choice for this application.