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Acoustic microscopy of human metaphase chromosomes
Author(s) -
Rugar D.,
Heiserman J.,
Minden S.,
Quate C. F.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1980.tb04135.x
Subject(s) - metaphase , giemsa stain , optics , wavelength , staining , chromosome , materials science , biology , physics , genetics , gene
SUMMARY Acoustic micrographs of human metaphase chromosomes have been recorded with wavelengths as short as 470 nm using liquid argon near 85 K as the acoustic wave coupling medium. Chromosomes prepared by trypsin‐Giemsa staining exhibit acoustic banding patterns similar to the G‐bands seen in optical images. Unstained chromosomes exhibit acoustic markings that do not correspond to traditional banding patterns. The observed acoustic contrast may arise from spatial variations in chromosomal mechanical properties, or from thickness variations in the fixed chromosomes.