American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Technologist in Cytogenetics certification (ASCP CG) Practice Test

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What region of the chromosome does quinacrine and acridine orange dyes typically stain?

GC rich DNA
AT rich DNA
Centromeric DNA
Telomeric DNA

The correct answer is: AT rich DNA

Quinacrine and acridine orange dyes are primarily known for their ability to stain AT-rich regions of DNA. These dyes intercalate into the DNA double helix, and their fluorescence intensity is affected by the base composition; specifically, they exhibit a higher affinity for adenine-thymine (A-T) base pairs compared to guanine-cytosine (G-C) base pairs. This property makes them particularly useful for identifying specific chromosomal structures and regions during cytogenetic analyses. The staining pattern created by these dyes is utilized in various applications, including identifying certain chromosomal abnormalities and the overall structural organization of chromosomes. Understanding how these dyes target AT-rich DNA is crucial for interpreting cytogenetic results and further applying this knowledge in clinical settings.