Final answer:
Quinacrine mustard staining highlights Q bands on chromosomes, showing regions rich in adenine-thymine base pairs, whereas Giemsa staining emphasizes G bands. Both types of bands help in karyotyping and identification of chromosomal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Quinacrine mustard staining is a technique used by geneticists to visualize chromosome structures. When applied, quinacrine mustard binds to the DNA molecule and fluoresces under ultraviolet light, highlighting specific patterns known as Q bands. These bands represent the regions of DNA that are rich in adenine-thymine (A-T) base pairs. The staining helps cytogeneticists to easily identify chromosomal abnormalities and defects.
In contrast, Giemsa staining, another common chromosome staining technique, results in G bands, which reflect specific areas rich in guanine-cytosine (G-C) content. Q bands and G bands are useful in karyotyping by assisting in the identification of chromosomes, their banding patterns, and centromere positions. The geneticist typically captures digital images of the stained chromosomes and arranges them to form a classic karyotype.