(Extracted from, 40 Years of Discovery, Bert Weinstein, LLNL publication UCRL-ID-153931, “Chromosome Painting” by Don Pinkel)
Joe Gray and I became interested in the potential of fluorescence techniques and the possibility of using the chromosome libraries for hybridization. These could potentially be used to “paint” different chromosomes with specific fluorescent colors. We thought of all sorts of uses, for example, prenatal analysis and examining cancer cells. But the first application to attract funding was to improve biodosimetry in humans by measuring chromosomal aberrations.
In the mid 1980s, we published our solution to chromosome painting, and it has been widely adopted. The publication is one of the most highly cited to come out of Livermore. In the end, we didn’t need a lot of different instruments to make the technology work. One of the keys is that both Joe and I are physicists, which helped us to consider the biophysical issues involved.
The technology is now sold by Vysis, a subsidiary of Abott Pharmaceuticals. Vysis sells a wide range of chromosome painting products, including some that have been clinically approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
Chromosome painting has become a standard technique in biological research, and the technology continues to move forward.
