Bentzen 10 - Chromosome Variations Flashcards
What are chromosome variations (mutations)?
Permanent chromosmal changes that can be passed on to offspring if they occur in cells that will become gametes.
What are two general types of chromosome variations (mutations)?
- Chromosomal rearrangement - changes in the structure of individual chromosomes
- Variation in chromosome numbers - changes in the number of chromosomes. One or more individual chromosomes are added or deleted (includes aneuploids and polyploids)
How many autosomes do humans have?
22
How many sex chromosomes do humans have?
1
What does a metacentric chromosome look like?
Equal length of the chromosome arms extending from the centromere
What does submetacentric chromosome look like?
There is a short arm and a long arm
What does an acrocentric chromosome look like?
Stubby arms and long arms
What does a telocentric chromosome look like?
Two arms extending from the centromere
What are chromosome rearrangements?
When a length of the chromosome is duplicated or something else happens to it. There is no change in ploidy level
What is aneuploidy?
Also known as trisomy. Where there is ONE extra chromosome added
What is polyploidy?
Also known as autotriploid, where there are multiple numbers of chromosomes made, eg. 3n=9
What is the genetic reason for the Cri du Chat syndrome?
A deleted region of chromosome 5
What is the genetic reason for Down Syndrome?
Trisomy (aneuploidy) of chromosome 21
What are four types of chromosome rearrangements?
Duplication (length in chromosome duplicated)
Inversion (Where a sequence in chromosome inverts)
Deletion (Where a sequence in a chromosome is deleted)
Reciprocal Translocation (where a sequence in a chromosome is switched with another chromosome)
How are chromosome rearrangements made?
They are a consequence of repair mechanisms gone wrong after double-stranded DNA breaks
At what part of a cell’s life cycle can deletion loops be detected?
During meiosis
How can you detect chromosome deletions?
There is a formation of a deletion loop during pairing of homologs in prophase I, in prophase I, the normal chromosome must loop out for the homologous sequences of the chromosomes to align.