Figure 1

Single cell genome amplification procedure. (A) Tissues of interest are excised and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. After sectioning, staining, and mounting on a polyethylene membrane coated slide, a cell of interest is laser micro-dissected and catapulted into an adhesive cap of a micro-centrifuge tube. The cell is then subject to DNA extraction and WGA in a protected chamber, minimizing the chance for contamination. Aliquots of the WGA products are amplified by multiple PCRs with specific primers for analysis of multiple genomic loci. (B) Serial photographs taken during laser micro-dissection and catapulting of a single cell. The left panel shows a stained tissue section under low magnification. A portion of the tissue section is viewed under high magnification before (1) and after (2) micro-dissection, and after catapulting (3) of the single cell (bar = 6 μm). Inspection of the adhesive cap under low magnification (4) reveals a catapulted single cell.