Chromosomes Flashcards
Chromosomes which are not sex chromosomes
Autosomes
Sex chromosomes males have
XY
Sex chromosomes females have
XX
Constriction within a chromosome which divides it into two arms
Centromere
Label given to the short arm of a chromosome
P arm
Label given to the long arm of a chromosome
Q arm
Type of chromosome which has its centromere in the centre
Metacentric
Type of chromosome which has its centromere close to the centre but one arm is slightly longer than the other
Submetacentric
Type of chromosome where the centromere is significantly to one side
Acrocentric
Type of chromosome where the centromere is almost completely to one side with one arm being extremely short
Telocentric
Cells which contain different chromosomal numbers to the normal diploid cells
Aneuploid cells
Occurrence where all cells contain three copies of each chromosome instead of two copies - so 69 total chromosomes
Triploidy
Cause of triploidy
Non-disjunction during meiosis - one gamete has two copies of every chromosome and another gamete has no chromosomes; if the gamete with two copies of each chromosome pairs with a normal gamete the resulting foetus will be triploid
Outcome of triploidy in human foetuses
Spontaneous abortion
Non-disjunction for only one chromosome during meiosis resulting in the foetus having three copies of a single chromosome
Trisomy
Non-disjunction for only one chromosome during meiosis resulting in the foetus having only one copy of a chromosome
Monosomy
Trisomies of autosomes which are compatible with life
13
18
21
Cause of mosaic trisomy or monosomy
Non-disjunction occurs during mitosis just after the two gametes fuse; resulting in two distinct cell lines, one with the normal chromosomal makeup and another with a trisomy or monosomy
Syndrome caused by trisomy 21
Down’s syndrome
Syndrome caused by trisomy 18
Edward’s syndrome
Syndrome caused by trisomy 13
Patau syndrome
Syndrome caused by monosomy X
Turner’s syndrome
Syndrome caused by trisomy XXY
Klinefelter’s syndrome
Findings before birth in Down’s syndrome
Reduced maternal levels of alpha fetoprotein
Increased beta HCG
Increased nuchal thickness
Increased levels of inhibin A
Percentage of cases of Down’s syndrome caused by meiotic non-disjunction
95%
Three chromosomal causes of Down’s syndrome
Meiotic non-disjunction
Mosaicism
Robertsonian translocation