New methods in cytogenetics

Developments in the technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) now permit hybridization of sequences ranging from 1 kb to whole genomes. The technique can be used in applications from coarse mapping of whole chromosomes to high-resolution analysis of extended strands of DNA. The complexity, and hence the coverage, of 'paints' prepared by amplification is being improved to the extent that such methods are used in cloning strategies for the generation of region-specific probes. Interphase analysis and comparative genomic hybridization are becoming important tools in cancer cytogenetics, and the potential for routine analysis of fetal cells obtained from maternal blood may provide a fresh approach to prenatal cytogenetic screening. Functional studies of gene activity and nuclear organization are now also possible.