Abstract

A simple and efficient method for the dissection of (marker) chromosomes, (micro)nuclei, and chromosome regions is presented. Before microdissection, metaphases are overlaid with milli-Q water to rehydrate the chromosomes, which makes them soft and sticky. The dissected chromosome fragments are dissolved without proteinase-K or topoisomerase treatment and directly amplified using a degenerate oligonucleotide primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR). The advantages of this microFISH method over previously reported methods are: (1) microdissection in this way is very fast; (2) a chromosome, marker, (micro)nucleus, or chromosome region is collected as a whole using only one microneedle; (3) the dissected material sticks tightly to the needle without the risk of getting lost; (4) no Sequenase is used in the DOP-PCR reaction which reduces the risk of contamination.