Preface
The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique has nowadays become a powerful and versatile tool in clinical genetics, tumor cytogenetics
and science. Invented in the 1970's there were many problems to overcome
in working out the methodology. However, the technique is now established in many cytogenetic and other clinically orientated routine laboratories as well as in many research facilities allover the world.
This book is part of a series oflabmanuals providing practical aspects of
technologies used in biology, medicine and genetics. As in many cases published methods are incomplete or refer back to series of previously published papers, one goal ofthis labmanual for FISH is to provide a laboratory
handbook that will facilitate research in connection with fluorescence in
situ hybridization approaches.
The labmanual for FISH aims to provide a resource for both the novice
scientist as well as for those more experienced investigators seeking to extend their technological base. Thus, apart from the basic technology and
routine applications of FISH, also more sophisticated approaches have
been included into this booklet, like e.g. Fiber FISH, Yeast FISH, FISH
in combination with immunohistochemistry or stylish multicolor-FISH assays. Also future aspects of further developments of the field of molecular
cytogenetics are covered. The chapters dealing with the recently developed
FISH techniques centromere-specific multicolor FISH or the microdissection based multicolor banding method demonstrate, that the possibilities
of this field still did not draw to a close.
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who have contributed
to this booklet! Moreover, we are grateful to Springer-Verlag for asking us
to put together these protocols of the state of the art, and latest advances in
this exciting and inspiring field of molecular cytogenetics.
Jena, July 2001
Erlangen, July 2001
THOMAS LIEHR, PhD
BERND RAUTENSTRAUSS, PhD
The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique has nowadays become a powerful and versatile tool in clinical genetics, tumor cytogenetics
and science. Invented in the 1970's there were many problems to overcome
in working out the methodology. However, the technique is now established in many cytogenetic and other clinically orientated routine laboratories as well as in many research facilities allover the world.
This book is part of a series oflabmanuals providing practical aspects of
technologies used in biology, medicine and genetics. As in many cases published methods are incomplete or refer back to series of previously published papers, one goal ofthis labmanual for FISH is to provide a laboratory
handbook that will facilitate research in connection with fluorescence in
situ hybridization approaches.
The labmanual for FISH aims to provide a resource for both the novice
scientist as well as for those more experienced investigators seeking to extend their technological base. Thus, apart from the basic technology and
routine applications of FISH, also more sophisticated approaches have
been included into this booklet, like e.g. Fiber FISH, Yeast FISH, FISH
in combination with immunohistochemistry or stylish multicolor-FISH assays. Also future aspects of further developments of the field of molecular
cytogenetics are covered. The chapters dealing with the recently developed
FISH techniques centromere-specific multicolor FISH or the microdissection based multicolor banding method demonstrate, that the possibilities
of this field still did not draw to a close.
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who have contributed
to this booklet! Moreover, we are grateful to Springer-Verlag for asking us
to put together these protocols of the state of the art, and latest advances in
this exciting and inspiring field of molecular cytogenetics.
Jena, July 2001
Erlangen, July 2001
THOMAS LIEHR, PhD
BERND RAUTENSTRAUSS, PhD