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

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Which staining technique is recommended for highlighting AT-rich regions on chromosomes?

G-banding
QFQ
C-banding
R-banding

The correct answer is: QFQ

The staining technique recommended for highlighting AT-rich regions on chromosomes is QFQ, which stands for Quinoxaline Fluorescent Quantitative. This technique is designed to specifically target and highlight areas of chromosomes that are rich in adenine and thymine (AT), allowing for a clear visualization of these regions. This is particularly useful in cytogenetic analysis as it helps identify specific chromosomal abnormalities associated with various genetic disorders, as well as aiding in the study of chromosome structure and function. In contrast, G-banding is a widely used technique that provides a detailed banding pattern based on GC-rich regions, while C-banding is focused on visualizing the centromeric regions of chromosomes and is not specific to AT-rich areas. R-banding, on the other hand, is designed to highlight GC-rich regions, but does not target AT-rich sequences as effectively as QFQ. Thus, QFQ is specifically advantageous for studies targeting the AT-rich regions within chromosomes, making it the preferred choice for this purpose.