The in situ hybridization and PCR technologies are now well-established
molecular techniques for studying chromosomal aneuploidy and rearrangements,
gene localization and expression, and genomic organization. Over the
last decade, we have seen increasing applications in these fields.
By combining the high sensitivity of the PCR reaction and the cytological
localization of target sequences, both PRINS and in situ PCR techniques have
provided highly powerful complements to FISH for in situ cellular and
molecular investigations. Both these approaches have several advantages
in terms of sensitivity and specificity, owing to the use of primers and to the
fast kinetics of annealing and elongation reactions in situ.