Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique that uses fluorescent probes that bind to specific DNA or RNA sequences, allowing chromosomes or portions of chromosomes to be visualized under a microscope. FISH can be used to identify chromosomal abnormalities, assist with gene mapping, and determine ploidy. It involves denaturing chromosomes and probes, hybridizing them, and then examining the slides under fluorescence to identify the location of specific DNA or RNA sequences on chromosomes.