What is a common feature of diseases detectable by FISH?

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a cytogenetic technique that is used to detect and localize the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes. This method is particularly valuable in identifying genetic abnormalities and disorders.

Genetic disorders often arise from changes in chromosomes, such as deletions, duplications, or translocations, which FISH can effectively visualize. For instance, FISH plays a significant role in diagnosing conditions like Down syndrome, certain types of cancers, and other inherited genetic diseases by allowing for the identification of specific chromosomal abnormalities.

In contrast, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and the requirement for immediate treatment do not universally apply to the conditions that FISH can detect. While some viral infections may involve genetic techniques for diagnosis, they are not specifically tied to the genetic abnormalities that FISH addresses. Autoimmune diseases are typically diagnosed through serological tests and clinical evaluation rather than cytogenetic techniques like FISH. Lastly, the urgency of treatment can vary greatly among different genetic disorders detected by FISH, so it cannot be generalized that all require immediate intervention.

Therefore, the characteristic common to diseases detectable by FISH is that they are primarily genetic disorders, emphasizing the method's role in genetic analysis and diagnosis