Patent ID: 8278050

Claim:
A method for detecting inversions in a selected mitotic chromosome, comprising the steps of: generating a pair of single-stranded sister chromatids from said selected chromosome, each sister chromatid having a length of DNA and a series of target DNA sequences that span a portion of the length of the DNA of the chromatid; generating a plurality of non-repetitive probes 20 to 90 bases long, wherein each of the probes is single-stranded, unique and identical to at least a portion of a target DNA sequence, each of the probes having at least one fluorescent label, thereby permitting detection thereof; hybridizing the probes in situ to the sister chromatids; and detecting the hybridized probes using fluorescence microscopy; whereby if no inversion exists, all of the probes will hybridize to one of the sister chromatids, and whereby if an inversion exists, at least one of the probes will hybridize to the other sister chromatid at the same location as the inversion.