FISH and CHIPs: Colorful Clues to Radiation-Induced Chromosomal Instability

Radiation produces a variety of clonal and non-clonal chromosome aberrations that can be characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Epigenetic changes affecting the expression of an essential DNA repair gene(s) may be an importantant mechanism for radiation-induced chromosomal instability. Expression profiling with specialized cDNA chips promises to identify candidate genes for the delayed effects of radiation and to provide new insights into the manifold and complex cellular responses to DNA damage. Much progress can be made by using FISH and CHIPs to study the mechanisms and biological consequences of ionizing radiation.