Barr Body

Determination

 heterochromatin body always present in nuclei

of females but not males

Barr bodies are the inactivated

X chromosomes
Lyonization process of determining

X chromosome

Murray L. Barr

1949 - they discovered

the sex chromatin
body, now known as
the Barr body.

Mary Frances Lyon

Studied the genetic hazards of radiation,
using mutagenesis experiments in mice.

It was while working on radiation hazards

in 1961 that she discovered
X-chromosome inactivation, for which
she is best known.

Rinse mouth thoroughly with distilled water

Gently but firmly scrape the inner lining of the cheek with a
sterile cotton swab
3. Pre-coat glass slides thinly with plasma as adhesive to
prevent successive loss of material during staining
4. Place or swab the specimen onto the pre=coated glass slide.
5. Air dry
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2.

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2.
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4.
5.
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7.

Fix the smear in 95% ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes

Air dry
Stain the buccal smear as follows:
a. Dip slide 4x in eosin solution
b. Wash the slides in distilled water. Drain completely
c. Dip slide 6x in hematoxylin dye or until the color of the smear
becomes purple
d. Wash with distilled water
e. Blot dry
Add a small drop of Eukitt mounting medium over the smear and cover it
with a clean coverslip
Focus slide under LPO to view the distribution of squamous cells
Examine the evenly spread squamous cells under HPO and look for Barr
bodies
Draw the identified Barr body

Sterilize finger using 70% alcohol

Puncture the area with a sterile blood lancet (firm and quick
stab)
3. Wipe of the first drop of blood
4. Prepare the blood smear on a clean slide using the two-slide
method
5. Air dry
1.
2.

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

Fix the prepared blood smear by immersing the slide in Methanol for 5
seconds.
Air dry
Stain the blood smear
a. Dip slide in eosin (solution 2) for 3 seconds
b. Transfer the slide In Methylene Blue (solution 3) for 6 seconds or
until the color of the smear turns blue
c. Wash using the prepared washing buffer
d. Blot dry
Add a small drop of oil immersion solution on the blood smear and
examine under OIO. Look for Barr bodies among polymorphonuclear
neutrophils
Draw and identify Barr bodies