Flow cytometry karyotype in man

Because of their different lengths, metaphase
chromosomes can also be presented in a flowcytometry-
based karyotype. With this method,
individual chromosomes, stained and passed by
a laser light source, give signals corresponding
to their sizes. Although there are overlaps, e. g.,
between the similarly sized human chromosomes
9–12, or with chromosomes 1 and 2, a
distribution pattern of light impulses based on
individual chromosome sizes is obtained. The
size of the X chromosome lies between those of
chromosomes 8 and 7; the size of the Y chromosome
as a rule corresponds to that of a chromosome
22, although Y chromosome sizes may
differ considerably. Because of the technical expenditure
required and the unsharp resolution,
flow cytometry is not frequently used for a
practical diagnosis