Gene amplification in mammalian cells commonly manifests itself as homogeneously staining chromosomal regions (HSRs). These are frequently seen in neuroblastoma and have been shown to be the site of amplification of the NMYC oncogene. We have used a nonisotopic, high-resolution in situ hybridization technique to reveal a hitherto unrecognized periodic microstructure within HSRs of a human neuroblastoma cell line.