In Situ Hybridization (ISH)
In situ hybridization (ISH) is a powerful technique for localizing specific nucleic acid targets within fixed tissues and cells, allowing you to obtain temporal and spatial information about gene expression and genetic loci. While the basic workflow of ISH is similar to that of blot hybridizations — the nucleic acid probe is synthesized, labeled, purified, and annealed with the specific target — the difference is the greater amount of information gained by visualizing the results within the tissue. Today there are two basic ways to visualize your RNA and DNA targets in situ — fluorescence (FISH) and chromogenic (CISH) detection. Characteristics inherent in each method of detection (Table 1) have made FISH and CISH useful for very distinct applications. While both use a labeled, target-specific probe that is hybridized with the sample, the instrumentation used to visualize the samples is different for each method. Here we highlight the differences and the advantages of each method. |
Table 1. Inherent characteristics of in situ hybridization methods.
| Technique | Instrument/ Visualization Method | Primary Advantage | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISH | Bright-field microscope | Ability to view the CISH signal and tissue morphology simultaneously | Molecular pathology diagnostics |
| FISH | Epifluorescence or confocal microscope | Visualization of multiple targets in the same sample | Gene expression and cytogenetics |
Chromogenic In Situ hybridization
 | Chromogenic in situ hybridzation (CISH) enables you to gain genetic information in the context of tissue morphology using methods already present in histology labs. Life Technologies offers CISH DNA probes and key reagents for CISH analysis. |
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
Multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) exemplifies the elegance that only fluorescence-based strategies offer: the ability to assay multiple targets simultaneously and visualize co-localization within a single specimen. Using spectrally distinct fluorophore labels for each different hybridization probe, this approach gives you the power to resolve several genetic elements or multiple gene expression patterns in a single specimen, with multicolor visual display.
- Learn More about Multiplex FISH detection using FISH Tag™ RNA and TSA kits
