Chromosomal abnormalities 1 Flashcards
What are histones?
Histones are highly positive charged proteins that are attracted to the negative charge of DNA
What is a chromosome and where is it found?
Chromosome is an organised package of DNA found in the nucleus of the cell
What can chromosomes not exist without?
Chromosome cannot exist without a centromere and intact telomeres
What are the 2 arms that make up chromoseomes?
P and q arms
What do chromosomes exist as?
Usually exist as chromatin
DNA double helix bounds to histones
Octamer of histones form nucleosome
What is euchromatin?
Less condensed
Gene rich
What is heterochromatin?
Highly condensed
Gene poor
What is the fundamental unit of DNA and whats it structure?
Nucleosome is fundamental unit of DNA
-Eight histones and two turns of DNA
What happens in the G1 phase of the cell cycle?
Cell makes a variety of proteins needed for DNA replication
What happens in the S phase of the cell cycle?
Chromosomes are replicated so that each chromosome now consists of two sister, identical chromatids
What happens in the G2 phase of the cell cycle?
synthesis of proteins especially microtubules
How many chromosomes does the human have?
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes
-22 pairs autosomes, 1 pair sex chromosomes XX or XY
What part of the cycle can we see chromosomes and why?
Can see chromosomes in the metaphase part of cell cycle
-They are condensed so visible
Lengths of the arms in metacentric chromsomes?
p & q arms even length
Where is the centromere in metacentric chromosomes?
centromere in the middle
What chromosomes are metacentric?
1-3, 16-18
Length of arms in submetacentric chromosomes?
p arm shorter than q
What chromosomes are submetacentric?
4-12, 19-20, X
Length of arms in acrocentric chromosomes?
Long q, small p
What do genes on the satellite arms code for?
Satellite arms
-Genes on these code for rRNA
What chromosomes are acrocentric?
13-15, 21-22, Y
What can you detect numerical chromosomal and changes through and examples?
Numerical
- Can detect through traditional karyotyping, FISH, QF-PCR, NGS
- E.g. Down’s syndrome
What can you detect structural chromosomal changes through and examples?
Structural
- Can detect through traditional karyotyping, FISH
- Trisomy 21
Definition of haploid
One set of chromosomes (n=23) as in a normal gamete
Definition of diploid
Cell contains two sets of chromosomes (2n=46; normal in human)