Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH

The overall goal of the following experiment is to quantify genomic instability in mouse B lymphocytes. This is achieved by first isolating the B cells for primary cell culture. Next, the cells are fixed facilitating the preparation of the metaphase spreads.

Finally, telomere PNA fish is performed for visualization of the fluorescently labeled telomeres. Ultimately, the level of various types of chromosome aberrations can be quantified by fluorescent microscopy. The implications of this technique can extend our understanding of the DNA repair pathways, as it can help identify genes that promote genomic stability in our targeted mouse models.