Modified Giemsa-11 Staining Protocol for Chromosomes of Human and Hybrid Cells

Giemsa-11 or G-11 is a specialized staining technique utilized to (1) differentiate heterochromatic regions of human chromosomes, (2) identify the presence of human chromosomes in human-rodent hybrid cells, and (3) identify human-rodent translocation products in hybrid cells. Earlier procedures, though useful, are problematic and may fail to yield results due to inadequate differentiation between light and dark staining regions. The improved protocol presented here is easy, reliable, and applicable in both clinical and research situations. A discussion of the biology of the staining process is also given.