IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION (ISH) Introduction In situ hybridization (ISH) is a molecular biology and cytogenetic technique used to detect and localize specific DNA or RNA sequences within intact cells, tissues, or chromosomes. The term in situ means “in the original place”, indicating that the target nucleic acid is identified without extracting it from the cell, thereby preserving cellular and tissue morphology. ISH is widely used in gene mapping, gene expression analysis, medical diagnosis, and developmental biology. Principle of In Situ Hybridization The principle of ISH is based on complementary base pairing between a single-stranded, labeled nucleic acid probe and its complementary target DNA or RNA sequence present in fixed cells or tissues. The sample is fixed on a slide. Target nucleic acids are denatured to single strands. A labeled probe hybridizes specifically with the target sequence. Excess probe is washed away. The hybridized probe is visualized using appropriate detection sys...
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