What is chromosome microdissection? Chromosome microdissection
is a technique that physically removes a large section of DNA
from a complete chromosome. The smallest portion of DNA that can
be isolated using this method comprises 10 million base pairs -
hundreds or thousands of individual genes. How is chromosome
microdissection used? Scientists who study chromosomes are known
as cytogeneticists. They are able to identify each chromosome
based on its unique pattern of dark and light bands. Certain
abnormalities, however, cause chromosomes to have unusual
banding patterns. For example, one chromosome may have a piece
of another chromosome inserted within it, creating extra bands.
Or, a portion of a chromosome may be repeated over and over
again, resulting in an unusually wide, dark band. Some
chromosomal aberrations have been linked to cancer and inherited
genetic disorders, and the chromosomes of many tumor cells
exhibit irregular bands. To understand more about what causes
these conditions, scientists hope t