Molecular Combing

This unit describes an important advance in fiber‐FISH technology called molecular combing, in which single DNA molecules are bound by one or both ends to a surface and stretched in a uniform and parallel manner by a receding meniscus. This technique is gentle on the molecules, rapid, and easy to perform. Reliable, quantitative information for genome‐wide studies can be obtained without the need for other techniques and a large number of accurate measurements can be made in a single experiment. The authors provide detailed protocols for basic molecular combing, high‐resolution physical mapping, and gene‐dosage approaches as well as support protocols outlining surface preparation, DNA solution preparation, and probe labeling.