This book is a unique source of information on the present state of the exciting field of molecular cytogenetics and how it can be applied in research and diagnostics. The basic techniques of fluorescence in situ hybridization and primed in situ hybridization (PRINS) are outlined, the multiple approaches and probe sets that are now available for these techniques are described, and applications of them are presented in 36 chapters by authors from ten different countries around the world. The book not only provides the reader with basic and background knowledge on the topic, but also gives detailed protocols that show how molecular cytogenetics is currently performed by specialists in this field. The FISH Application Guide initially provides an overview of the (historical) development of molecular cytogenetics, its basic procedures, the equipment required, and probe generation. The book then describes tips and tricks for making different tissues available for molecular cytogenetic studies. These are followed by chapters on various multicolor FISH probe sets, their availability, and their pot- tial for use in combination with other approaches. The possible applications that are shown encompass the characterization of marker chromosomes, cryptic cytogenetic aberrations and epigenetic changes in humans by interphase and metaphase cyto- netics, studies of nuclear architecture, as well as the application of molecular cytogenetics to zoology, botany and microbiology.

Molecular Cytogenetics, Probes and Equipment

Molecular Cytogenetic Applications in Diagnostics and Research: An Overview
Molecular Cytogenetics: The Standard FISH and PRINS Procedure
Generation of Paint Probes by Flow-Sorted and Microdissected Chromosomes
ISH Probes Derived from BACs, Including Microwave Treatment for Better FISH Results
PNA-FISH Technique for In Situ Assessment of Aneuploidy
Oligonucleotide FISH Probes
Microscopy and Imaging Systems
Optical Filters for FISH
FISH With and Without COT1 DNA
FISH Applications in Different Tissue Preparations
Pre- and Postnatal Diagnostics and Research on Peripheral Blood, Chorion, Amniocytes, and Fibroblasts
Prenatal Diagnostics on Uncultured Amniocytes
Tumorcytogenetic Diagnostics and Research on Uncultured Blood or Bone Marrow and Smears
Application of FISH to Archival Cytogenetic Slides
Characterization of Mosaicism in Various Easy-to-Acquire Body Tissues Such as Buccal Smears, Hair Root Cells or Urine
Characterization of Archived Formalin-Fixed/Paraffin-Embedded or Cryofixed Tissue, Including Nucleus Extraction
FISH on Sperms, Spermatocytes and Oocytes
Characterization of Marker Chromosomes
Multiplex FISH and Spectral Karyotyping
Tips and Tricks for mFISH
Simultaneous Fluorescence Immunostaining and FISH
Color-Changing Karyotyping (CCK), an M-FISH/SKY Alternative
Three-Color FISH for the Detection of Individual Radiosensitivity
FISH Banding Techniques
cenM-FISH Approaches
Characterization of Cryptic and Epigenetic Aberrations
Subtelomeric and/or Subcentromeric Probe Sets
Quantitative DNA Fiber Mapping
Parental Origin Determination FISH: Pod-FISH
Interphase FISH and Characterization of the Nuclear Architecture
Interphase FISH: Detection of Intercellular Genomic Variations and Somatic Chromosomal Mosaicism
Three-Dimensional Interphase Analysis Enabled by Suspension FISH
Applications of FISH in Zoology, Botany and Microbiology
Animal Probes and ZOO-FISH
FISH Targeting of Chromosomes and Subchromosomal Regions in Yeast
FISH on Insect Cells Transfected with Heterologous DNA: A Single-Cell-Directed Approach
FISH on Plant Chromosomes
FISH in Food Microbiology
Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) and Array CGH
Micro-CGH: Microdissection-Based Comparative Genomic Hybridization
Array CGH: Opening New Horizons
Internet Links for FISH
FISH and Chips on the Internet.