Appeal No. 2006-0227 Page 7
Application No. 10/121,264
translocations by a technique known as whole chromosome painting.” Col. 32, lines 37-
39. Chu states that the method typically involves staining multiple chromosomes at a
time, with dyes that fluoresce in different colors: “For example, chromosomes 1, 2 and
3 can be stained simultaneously by using probes which fluoresce orange for one
chromosome, probes which fluoresce green for a second chromosome, and probes
which fluoresce red for a third chromosome.” Col. 32, lines 47-51.
Since human cells have a total of 24 chromosomes, “one test would typically use
8 slides of cells to examine the complete nuclear genome of a human. This test would
include . . . placing the 8 slides onto 8 wells of a tray.” Col. 32, lines 52-54. That is, the
same three (orange, green, and red) labels would be attached to different probes and
used to label three different chromosomes on each slide, allowing all twenty-four
chromosomes to be examined using eight slides.
Chu discloses an apparatus designed to allow all twenty-four chromosomes to be
examined on a single slide. Chu’s Figure 16A and Figure 16B are reproduced below:
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007