Chapter 6: Chromosomal Aberrations Flashcards
Alteration of the genetic material at the chromosomal level.
Chromosome mutation
An organism gains or loses one or more chromosomes but not a complete set.
Aneuploidy
What causes aneuploidy in organisms?
Nondisjunction
Paired homologs fail to disjoin during segregation causing an additional copy of chromosome upon fertilization.
Nondisjunction
Loss of a single chromosome from an otherwise diploid genome.
Monosomy
A phenomenon where a single copy of a recessive gene due to monosomy may be insufficient to provide a life-sustaining function for the organism.
Haploinsufficiency
Discuss the consequences of monosomy.
- Recessive lethal genes is unmasked and expressed
2. A single copy of the recessive gene may be insufficient to provide life-sustaining function.
Gain of a single chromosome in addition to an otherwise diploid genome.
Trisomy
True or False. Trisomic individuals in plants are not viable.
False. Trisomic plants may be viable just like the case of Datura and Oryza sativa
Designated as 47, 21+
Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Individuals with Down syndrome bear a striking resemblance to one another due to what structures?
- prominent epicanthic fold in each eye
2. Flat face and round head
What region in chromosome 21 contains the genes that are dosage-sensitive in this trisomy and responsible for the many phenotypes associated with the syndrome?
Down Syndrome Critical Region (DSCR)
True or False. Down syndrome individuals have an increased risk of developing a number of cancers involving solid tumors, including lung cancer and melanoma.
False. Decreased risk due to an extra copy of DSCR1 gene which encodes a protein that suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leading to suppression of angiogenesis.
What gene do down syndrome individuals have in extra that lowers their risk of cancer?
DSCR1 gene
What does DSCR1 gene encodes?
A protein that suppresses the gene vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
About 75 percent of nondisjunction leading to down syndrome occurs as?
First division nondisjunction
True or False. The spermatogonium is the source of the extra chromosome in about 95 percent of 47, 21+.
False. Ovum is the main source.
Pre-natal diagnostic technique where fetal cells are obtained from the amniotic fluid.
Amniocentesis
Pre-natal diagnostic technique where fetal cells are obtained from the chorion of the placenta.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
An occurrence where complete haploid sets of chromosomes are present in addition to an otherwise haploid set.
Euploidy
A type of euploidy where more than two sets are present
Polyploidy
A type of polyploidy where each additional set of chromosomes is identical to the parent species.
Autopolyploidy
True or False. Autopolyploids are larger than their diploid relatives. This increase seems to be due to larger cell number rather than greater cell size.
False. It is due to increased cell size.
Two ways to induce autotriploidy.
- Two sperms fertilizing one ovum
2. Experimentally produced by crossing a diploid organism (haploid gamete) with a tetraploid organism (diploid gamete)
A failure of all chromosomes to segregate during meiotic divisions produces a haploid gamete. It is then fertilized by a normal haploid gamete. This produces an?
Autotriploid
Chromosomes have replicated, but the parent cell never divides and instead reenters interphase. This produces what?
Autotetraploid
Autotetraploid may be induced experimentally by:
- Applying cold or heat shock to meiotic cells.
2. Applying colchicine to somatic cells undergoing mitosis.
Explain how ploidy increases cell size.
Two genes that encode G1 cyclins are repressed when ploidy increases. This causes the cell to stay in G1 phase longer and, on average grows to a larger size before it moves beyond the G1 stage.
Polyploidy may also result from hybridizing two closely related species. This phenomenon is called?
Allopolyploidy
Allopolyploids contain the equivalent of how many haploid genomes.
Four haploid genomes derived from separate species.
If the aberration is found in one homolog but not the other, the individual is said to be?
Heterozygous for the aberration
Exchanges and transfers of genetic material are called?
Translocation
When a chromosome break in one or more places and a portion of it is lost, the missing piece is called a?
Deletion
A deletion that occurs at the end of the chromosome is called?
Terminal deletion