Which technology is particularly used to analyze methylation patterns in narrow genomic regions?

The focus on analyzing methylation patterns in narrow genomic regions is particularly well-suited to the technology known as MS-MLPA, or Methylation-Specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification. This method is designed specifically to detect and quantify methylated DNA sequences, allowing for a detailed analysis of methylation status across multiple genes or regions. MS-MLPA employs specific probes that can differentiate between methylated and unmethylated DNA, making it especially valuable in contexts such as cancer research, where understanding methylation changes can be crucial for identifying pathways involved in tumorigenesis.

In contrast, techniques like FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) primarily focus on the visualization of specific DNA sequences within chromosomes and do not provide information on methylation status. Array CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) is used to detect copy number variations across the genome rather than analyzing methylation patterns. Whole genome sequencing is a comprehensive approach that provides base-pair level information about the entire genome, but it is less targeted and less effective for specifically assessing methylation in narrow regions compared to the precision of MS-MLPA.