Spectral karyotyping

Spectral karyotyping (SKY) combines Fourier
spectroscopy, CCD imaging, and optical microscopy.
The emission spectra of all points in the
sample aremeasured simultaneously in the visible
and near-infrared spectral range. Twentyfour
combinatorially labeled chromosome
paint probes, one specific to each chromosome
type, are hybridized to a metaphase after DNA
denaturation. The emission spectra of the individual
combinations of fluorophores are converted
to a spectrum of different visible display
colors by assigning blue, green, and red colors
to specific spectral ranges of fluorescent
wavelengths. The spectral karyotype is composed
of a specific false color for each chromosome
type. Spectral karyotyping has a wide
range of diagnostic applications in the analysis
of constitutional structural chromosome aberrations
and cancer cytogenetics.