in situ hybridization

hybridization /hy·brid·iza·tion/ (hi″brid-ĭ-za´shun)

1. crossbreeding; the act or process of producing hybrids.

2. molecular hybridization

3. formation of a heterokaryon by fusion of two somatic cells, usually of different species.

4. in chemistry, a procedure whereby orbitals of intermediate energy and desired directional character are constructed.

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in situ hybridization  molecular hybridization used to analyze prepared cells or histologic sections in situ in order to analyze the intracellular or intrachromosomal distribution, transcription, or other characteristics of specific nucleic acids.

molecular hybridization  formation of a partially or wholly complementary nucleic acid duplex by association of single strands, in order to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands.

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in situ

[L.] in its normal place; confined to the site of origin.

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in situ hybridization

see in situ hybridization of nucleic acid.

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in situ hybridization

A method for localizing a sequence of DNA, mRNA, or protein in a cell or tissue; the use of a DNA or RNA probe to detect a cDNA sequence in chromosome spreads or in interphase nuclei or an RNA sequence of cloned bacterial or cultured eukaryotic cells; ISH is used to map gene sequences to chromosomal sites and detect gene expression. See cDNA, Chromosome, CISH–Chromogenic in situ hybridization, DNA sequence, Eukaryote, FISH–Fluorescent in situ hybridization, GISH–Genomic in situ hybridization, Gene expression, Gene mapping, Hybridization, Immunoblotting, Interphase, Probe. Cf Southern blot.