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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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fluorescence in situ hybridization  listen  (floor-EH-sents in SY-too HY-brih-dih-ZAY-shun)

  A laboratory technique used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues. Pieces of DNA that contain a fluorescent dye are made in the laboratory and added to cells or tissues on a glass slide. When these pieces of DNA bind to specific genes or areas of chromosomes on the slide, they light up when viewed under a microscope with a special light. Also called FISH.