Chromosomal Abnormalities Flashcards
How many base pairs per octamer of histone?
166
How are histones stabilised?
h1 stabilises DNA wrapped around on tamer
What is epibenthic modification?
Demethylation, histone acetylation changes inactive chromatin to active chromatin
Methylation, histone deacetylation changes active chromatin to inactive chromatin
At what stage of mitosis are chromosomes analysed?
Metaphase
How are chromosomes isolated for analysis?
Spindle inhibitor - colcemid
Fix with 3:1 methanol : acetic acid
Stain with geimsa- banding
Light microscopy
What specimens can be used for chromosome analysis, and how long do they take to culture?
Bone marrow 0–1 days T lymphocytes 2-3 days (Grow in suspension) Amniotic fluid 7-21 days (Grow on substrate) Chorionic villus sampling Solid tissue
What are the relative sizes of chromosomes harvested from blood, bone marrow and amniotic fluid?
What is the implication?
Blood>amniotic fluid >bone marrow
Can detect smaller abnormalities in bigger chromosomes
Which chromosomes are acrocentric?
D and G groups - 13, 14, 15, 21, 22
Which of chromosomes 21 and 22 is larger?
22
What groups are chromosomes X and Y in?
X is C, Y is G
How are chromosomes stained?
Trypsin digests proteins of metaphase chromosomes
Stain with geimsa or leishman (romanowksi type dye)
AT rich = gene poor. Stain darkly
GC rich = gene rich. Stain lightly
What is c banding?
Stains heterochromatin at centromeres, 1, 9, 16 and Yq
Who do cytogenetic analysis?
Better management eg hormonal treatment of Klinefelter syndrome
Accurate diagnosis - account for phenotype/pregnancy loss
Assess future reproductive risks
Prenatal diagnosis
Why are people referred for cytogenetic testing?
Birth defects Abnormal sexual development Prenatal diagnosis Infertility Recurrent fetal loss Leukaemia ALL/AML/CML/myelodysplasia/myeloproliferative disorders Solid tumours
What might prompt the offer of prenatal diagnosis?
Maternal serum screening - downs
First trimester biochemical markers and ultrasound
Familial hypercholesterolaemia
Abnormal ultrasound - cleft lip and palate, abnormal limbs/heart
Whats Williams syndrome?
Deletion 7q11.23
What’s DiGeorge syndrome?
Deletion 22q11.2
WHat are the viable aneuplodies?
Trisomy 21 - downs
Patau trisomy 13, Edwards +18
Turners monosomy X
What is polyploidy?
Gain of a whole haploid set of chromosomes
What causes polyploidy?
Polyspermy
What is the consequence of triploidy?
15% of miscarriages, 2-3% of pregnancies - die shortly after birth
WHat causes aneuplodies?
Meiosis non disjunction
Mitotic non disjunction- mosaicism
WHat is anaphase lag?
Chromosomes left behind due to defects in spindle formation or attachment to chromosomes. Mitosis or meiosis
What is the incidence of Down syndrome?
1 in 650-1000
What are the symptoms of downs?
Hypotonia Intellectual disability Characteristic facial features Heart defects Increased incidence of leukaemia Increased incidence of early Alzheimer's
What is the cause of Edwards syndrome?
Trisomy 18 due to maternal meiosis two error
What is the prevalence of Edwards syndrome?
1 in 6000
What are the symptoms of Edwards syndrome?
Prominent occiput Rocker bottom feet Lifespan 5-15 days Small lower jaw Low set ears Overlapping fingers