Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) or Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA) is a molecular-cytogenetic method for the analysis of copy number changes (gains/losses) in the DNA content of a given subject's DNA and often in tumor cells.
CGH will detect only unbalanced chromosomal changes. Structural chromosome aberrations such as balanced reciprocal translocations or inversions cannot be detected, as they do not change the copy number.
During the 1990s Thomas Cremer realized together with Peter Lichter the concept of comparative genomic hybridization to metaphase chromosomes and to a matrix with DNA spots representing specific genomic sites.
Read more about Comparative Genomic Hybridization: Method, Limitations
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