Thiazole Orange is an asymmetric anthocyanin dye that can be coupled with oligonucleotides (ONs) to prepare fluorescent hybridization probes. Thiazole Orange has been widely used in biomolecular detection and staining of DNA/ RNA in gels and can be used for reticulocyte analysis. Thiazole orange generates a significant fluorescence enhancement and high quantum yield when it binds with nucleic acids, especially RNA. Thiazole orange can permeate living cell membranes. Thiazole orange can use UV light for detection, but can also be detected with blue light. The excitation and emission of Thiazole orange are λex = 510 nm (488 nm and 470 nm also show strong excitation) and λem = 527 nm, respectively.