FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION (FISH) AND SOMATIC CELL HYBRIDS SERVICE

In the last years our group has been actively involved in human-rodentsomatic cell hybrid generation and characterization. In addition, we havea deep knowledge of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) techniqueswhich have been exploited in a variety of research activities, rangingfrom basic research (genome evolution) to more applicative fields (clinicaland tumor cytogenetics).Telethon researchers have usually a deep experience in molecular biology.Most of studies, indeed, are focused on the investigation of molecularand biochemical aspects of genetic diseases. However, FISH techniquesand, particularly, somatic cell hybrid techniques are not fully exploited.The reason is that these techniques require a relatively huge cost interms of instrumentation setup and/or personnel training. As a consequence,their implementation is not justified for an occasional use. Occasional,however, does not means less important. Consider for instance the paperby Crisponi et al. (Nat. Genet. 27: 159-166, 2001). The breakpoint characterization, by FISH, performed in our laboratory, was the first step of the study.In the present application we propose to make available our expertise onFiSH and on somatic cell hybrids to the Telethon research community ina more organic and systematic way.