Acetocarmine is such a stain used to stain nucleic acid inside cells. As acetocarmine specifically-stain chromosomes apart from the cytoplasm, it can be used to visualize chromosomes in mitotic studies.Acetocarmine is such a stain used to stain nucleic acid inside cells. As acetocarmine specifically-stain chromosomes apart from the cytoplasm, it can be used to visualize chromosomes in mitotic studies.
Acetocarmine is a non-specific nuclear stain which simply binds the chromosomes and gives colour to them. However, specific nuclear stain (e.g. feulgen) reacts with chromosomes to give them the colour. Acetocarmine is a dye obtained from insects.
Aceto-carmine is frequently used to differentiate between good and bad pollen but when quamtitative estimates of pollen fertility are required the low viscosity of an acqucous solution is a disadvanatge.