Talk:In situ hybridization
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In Situ Hybridization - the localization of specific mRNA or DNA species in tissues, cells or chromosomes using nucleic acid probes.
Nucleic acid hybridization techniques rely upon the fact that complementary sequences of single-stranded nucleic acid species spontaneously re-anneal, under appropriate conditions, to form a double-stranded hybrid (duplex). Since it is possible to incorporate isotopic or non-isotopic markers into nucleic acids, either enzymatically or photochemically, we can use these labelled nucleic acid molecules as probes to study the distribution or level of expression of specific genes or gene transcripts.
In situ hybridization, or hybridization histochemistry, was introduced in 1969 (Buongiorno-Nardelli MAW et al. Nature, 225: 946-7; John, HL et al. Nature, 223: 912-3). The basic technique uses the fact that DNA or RNA (probes) will undergo hydrogen bonding to complimentary sequences of DNA or RNA in the cells or organisms (Hybridization).With the help of these probe DNAs or RNAs, the target gene or mRNA be visulized. In Situ Hybridization can be used to view the location of nucleic acidsequences (genes) in situ (ie. in their native location in the cell or nucleus).