The atomic force microscope (AFM) is proving to be as much a tool as an imaging device. Recently, Stefan Thalhammer, Robert Stark, Stefan Müller, Johannes Wienberg and Wolfgang M. Heckl have added another useful technique to this repertoire. They demonstrated that the AFM can be used to cut out an identified section of DNA and then extract that section for amplification.

They began by flow sorting chromosomes, and then increased the specific amount of the target DNA with a “pre-set” in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DMA to provide a specimen rich in chromosome 2. To identify the target area, selected chromosomes were examined with the AFM in the non-contact mode using stiff cantilevers.