Open AccessCharacterization of chromatin distribution in cell nuclei
Author(s) -
Young Ian T.,
Verbeek P. W.,
Mayall Brian H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990070513
Subject(s) - chromatin , context (archaeology) , computer science , thresholding , granularity , characterization (materials science) , range (aeronautics) , pixel , biological system , resolution (logic) , interpretation (philosophy) , distribution (mathematics) , voronoi diagram , biology , image (mathematics) , artificial intelligence , mathematics , physics , genetics , optics , dna , materials science , paleontology , composite material , programming language , operating system , mathematical analysis , geometry
In this paper we develop four measures to describe the distribution of nuclear chromatin. These measures attempt to describe in an objective and meaningful way the heterogeneity, granularity, condensation, and margination of chromatin in cell nuclei. Starting with a high‐resolution digitized image of a cell where the nuclear pixels have been identified, the four measures may be rapidly estimated. The range of each is derived and the interpretation of the measures in the context of chromatin compaction and distribution is developed. Implementation issues such as sampling density, thresholding and subsequent pre‐processing, and algorithmic complexity are discussed.