X-ray Ptychography Imaging of Human Chromosomes After Low-dose Irradiation
Archana Bhartiya, Darren Batey, Silvia Cipiccia, Xiaowen Shi, Christoph Rau, Stanley W. Botchway, Mohammed Yusuf, Ian Robinson
Abstract
Studies of the structural and functional role of chromosomes in cytogenetics have spanned more than 10 decades. In this work, we take advantage of the coherent X-rays available at the latest synchrotron sources to extract the individual masses of all 46 chromosomes of metaphase human B and T cells using hard X-ray ptychography. We have produced 'X-ray karyotypes' of both heavy metal-stained and unstained spreads to determine the gain or loss of genetic material upon low-level X-ray irradiation doses due to radiation damage. The experiments were performed at the I-13 beamline, Diamond Light Source, Didcot, UK, using the phase-sensitive X-ray ptychography method.