Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope: a Method for Investigating Chromosomes

✍ Scribed by Wiegr�be, W.; Monajembashi, S.; Dittmar, H.; Greulich, K.-O.; H�fner, S.; Hildebrandt, M.; Kittler, M.; Lochner, B.; Unger, E.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 279 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0142-2421
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9918(199706)25:7/8<510::aid-sia260>3.0.co;2-s

✦ Synopsis

Beutenbergstrae

Karyotypes of human metaphase chromosomes are used to detect genetic defects like deletions or translocations. For these investigations the chromosomes are treated by the trypsin-Giemsa protocol, resulting in a typical banding pattern. These patterns are investigated using conventional light microscopy. Because of the di †raction limit, even the smallest visible band contains ¿1 million base pairs. We want to improve resolution by using bright-Ðeld scanning near-Ðeld optical microscopy (SNOM). Images of trypsin-Giemsa-treated chromosomes are presented and compared with conventional light microscopic, scanning force and scanning Ñuorescence near-Ðeld optical microscopic data. For Ñuorescence investigations, the chromosomes were stained using propidium iodide. To our knowledge, it is the Ðrst attempt to investigate G-banded chromosomes by SNOM.