​Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

One method for localizing a piece of DNA within a genome is called fluorescence in situ hybridization, abbreviated FISH. In this approach, a fluorescent dye is attached to a purified piece of DNA, and then that DNA is incubated with the full set of chromosomes from the originating genome, which have been attached to a glass microscope slide. The fluorescently labeled DNA finds its matching segment on one of the chromosomes, where it sticks. By looking at the chromosomes under a microscope, a researcher can find the region where the DNA is bound because of the fluorescent dye attached to it. This information thus reveals the location of that piece of DNA in the starting genome.