Final answer:
Somatic cell hybridization is a technique used in physical chromosome mapping to determine the chromosome and gene location. It involves fusing somatic cells from two parent organisms to create a hybrid cell, which is then studied to identify specific genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Somatic cell hybridization is a technique used in physical chromosome mapping. It involves fusing two different types of cells, one of which is a somatic (body) cell, to create a hybrid cell. The hybrid cell contains genetic information from both parent cells and can be used to map the location of specific genes on chromosomes.
The process of somatic cell hybridization begins by isolating somatic cells from two parent organisms. These cells are then fused using techniques such as chemical fusion or electric shock. The resulting hybrid cell is cultured and allowed to multiply. By studying the traits or markers expressed by the hybrid cells, scientists can determine the chromosome and location of specific genes.