<P> FISH is widely used in the field of microbial ecology, to identify microorganisms . Biofilms, for example, are composed of complex (often) multi-species bacterial organizations . Preparing DNA probes for one species and performing FISH with this probe allows one to visualize the distribution of this specific species within the biofilm . Preparing probes (in two different colors) for two species allows to visualize / study co-localization of these two species in the biofilm, and can be useful in determining the fine architecture of the biofilm . </P> <P> Comparative genomic hybridization can be described as a method that uses FISH in a parallel manner with the comparison of the hybridization strength to recall any major disruptions in the duplication process of the DNA sequences in the genome of the nucleus . </P> <P> Virtual karyotyping is another cost - effective, clinically available alternative to FISH panels using thousands to millions of probes on a single array to detect copy number changes, genome - wide, at unprecedented resolution . Currently, this type of analysis will only detect gains and losses of chromosomal material and will not detect balanced rearrangements, such as translocations and inversions which are hallmark aberrations seen in many types of leukemia and lymphoma . </P> <P> Spectral karyotyping is an image of colored chromosomes . Spectral karyotyping involves FISH using multiple forms of many types of probes with the result to see each chromosome labeled through its metaphase stage . This type of karyotyping is used specifically when seeking out chromosome arrangements . </P>

Distinguish the detection of a fish probe from the detection of a molecular probe in a southern blot