Cytogenetics Flashcards
Abbreviation: add
additional material of unknown origin
Abbreviation: cht
chromatid
Abbreviation: der
derivative chromosome
Abbreviation: dic
dicentric chromosome
Abbreviation: dn
de novo
Abbreviation: fra
fragile site
Abbreviation: h
heterochromatin
Abbreviation: i
isochrom
Abbreviation: dir ins
direct insertion
Abbreviation: inv ins
inverted insertion
Abbreviation: ish
in situ hybridization
Abbreviation: mar
marker chromosome
Abbreviation: rcp
reciprocal translocation
Abbreviation rea
rearrangement
Describe what the following karyotype means: 46, XX, 9qh+
normal female, additional heterochromatic material in the long arm of chrom 9
Describe what the following karyotype means: 47, XXY/46,XY
Mosaic KS
Describe what the following karyotype means: 47,XX, +8/46,XX
Mosaic T8
Describe what the following karyotype means: 92,XXXX
Tetraploidy
Describe what the following karyotype means: 46,XX,del(5)(p13)
deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5
What are some indications for which you would want to do chromosome analysis
- 2 or more major malformations
- 1 major malformation in the presence of minor anomalies
- specific chromosome syndrome suspected
- ID and dysmorphic features
- ambiguous/abnormal genitalia
- female with short stature
- offspring of a parent with a balanced t (and vice versa)
- recurrent abnormalities and infertility
What is the best mitotic stage to observe/chromosomes and why
metaphase bc the chroms are the shortest and most compact
During a chromosome analysis, what are the bare minimum requirements to get a good sample/result
look @20 metaphase spreads: gives a 14% chance of not ruling out mosaicism (86% chance of ruling out mosaicism; with 50 metaphases, the chance of not ruling out mosaicism decreases to 6%)
a minimum of 5 karyotypes are examined
What is a marker chromosome
structurally abnormal chromosome that you cannot identify (contains genetic material but is NOT a chromosome, can look like a floating dot on chromosome spread)
what are the acrocentric chromosomes
13, 14, 15, 21, 22
How are chromosomes classified
dependent on the size of the chromosome, banding pattern, and position of the centromere
p=short arm, q=long arm
Define metacentric
centromere in the middle of the chromosome, equal amts of genetic material on each side ex:chrom 1
Define submetacentric
centromere off-centered, less material on the p arm, more material on the q arm
Define acrocentric
centromere at the top of the chromosome, virtually not material on the short arm (only satellite material- for ribosomal RNA production)
chrms 13, 14, 15, 21, 22
What is chromosome resolution? What are the ideals for amnio/blood and bone marrow
can only visualize gains, loses, and rearrangements in chroms
chromosome stretches and more bands= greater resolution (but have more overlap, harder to visualize)
@ 850 level, 1 band =50-100 genes
ideal resolution for blood/amnio is 550 resolution; ideal for bone marrow is 400
Describe what the following karyotype means: 45,X,t(2;4)(p11;q13), t(7;21)(p13;q12)
45,X, with a translocation of p11 on chromosome 2 to chromosome 4 and a translocation of q13 from chromosome 4 to chromosome 2
AND another translocation of p13 from chromosome 7 to chromosome 21 and a translocation of q12 from chromosome 21 to chromosome 7
How does FISH technology work
use of fluorescent molecules (labeled DNA probes) to detect a particular chromosome, gene, or chromosome region with a specific complementary sequence visualized with fluorescent microscope
if a probe lights up, the gene is present; if nothing lights up, the gene is not present
MUST BE LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC ABNORMALITY ON THE CHROMOSOME
can get resolution as great as 2-5 genes/probe, but probe needs to be highly specific
Define clones in terms of cancer
a cell population derived from a single progenitor cell
needs to meet at least one of the following criteria:
at least 2 cells that have a gain
at least 2 cells with the same structural rearrangement (del, add, t)
at least 3 cells that have the same numerical aberration (much easier for a chromosome to be lost than gained)
What is interphase FISH and when is it used
looking at 200 interphase chroms in the nucleus, only can visualize exactly what you are probing for, don’t get any other info for the other chroms
used for cancer. ex:
Abl on chrom 9 and BCR on chrom 22 for chronic myelogenous leukemia, if they co-localize (in the form of a translocation), FISH will light yellow to indicate over lap of red and green probes
What is a microarray? What is it’s resolution
measures gains and losses of DNA, can visualize up to 2.5mil bp (~15-30 genes) but usually need a minimum of 5 million bp
use for microdels, CNVs, but CANNOT DETECT BALANCED REARRANGEMENTS
better resolution than karyotype
What is a translocation
a two way exchange of material between 2 chroms. a break occurs in one arm of each chrom involved, breaks switch position
What is a balanced translocation
reciprocal, exchanges are equivalent, no loss of genetic material
What is an unbalanced translocation
partial trisomies and monosomies, loss or gain of some genetic material
What is a single segment exchange
one of the translocation segments is small (in the telomeric region) ex: t(1:4)(q44;q43.3)
may have no effect on phenotype or some effect
What is a double segment exchange
both translocated segments are large; translocations at breakpoints at or within a centromere exchanging entire arms are called whole arm translocations
individuals with balanced exchanges are phenotypically normal, problems arise when they try to reproduce
What are the 3 possible modes of segregation
- 2:2- 2 chromosomes to one cell, two chromosomes to the other (typical)
- 3:1- 3 chromosomes to one cell, one chromosome to the other
- 4:0- all 4 homologs go to one cell
method of segregation is dependent on the size of the translocated segments
Describe alternate segregation
one centromere goes to one pole, the next goes to the other pole (each centromere goes alternately to one or the other pole)
daughter cells are normal/balanced
only mode that leads to gametes with a complete genetic compliment (2:2 segregation)
Describe adjacent 1 segregation
unlike centromeres travel together (ONE is UNlike centromeres)
the most common form of malsegregation
ex: chromatin on the long arm of chrom 11 is translocated to the tip of chrom 3 on the short arm, while the telomeric tip of chrom 3 on the short arm has moved to chrom 11
gametes will be: partial 11q trisomy, partial 11q monosomy
(2:2 segregation)
Describe adjacent 2 segregation
like centromeres travel together
relatively uncommon
typically limited to t’s where each chrom has a short arm with little genetic content and can be viable in the trisomic state (most commonly involves 9p and a D or G chrom (D: 13, 14, 15; G: 21,22))
breakpoint usually between the upper long arm of one chrom and immediately below the centromere in the other chrom; the LEAST IMBALANCED, LEAST MONOSOMIC GAMETE WILL BE VIABLE
most cause a lethal imbalance during early embryogenesis
(2:2 segregation)
What is the outcome of a 3:1 segregation
gametes with 24 and 22 chromosomes are formed
conceptuses have either 47 or 45 chroms
Describe tertiary trisomy/monosomy segregation
3:1 segregation
trisomy: two normal chromosomes and one translocated chromosome move together (the centric portion contains the whole short arm of the derivative chromosome); most abnormal offspring have a tertiary trisomy; ex: der(22)t(11;22)(q23;q11)
monosomy: rare, if one der is very small and the amt of material missing is “monosomically small” there may be a viable conceptus (such as missing a subterminal portion)
Describe interchange trisomy/monosomy segregation
3:1 segregation
full autosome trisomy or full monosomy
trisomy: two translocated chroms and one normal chrom move together; more severe outcomes, less frequent only chromosomes 13, 18, 21, and 22 are viable trisomies
monosomy: only observed in PGD, likely very early arrested development of the embryo
Describe the result of 4:0 segregation
results in a double trisomy or a double monosomy
total nondisjunction of quadrivalent complex
is never viable
What are the ways to predict segregant outcomes
- assume alternate segregation is frequent and associated with phenotypic normality
- the least imbalanced, least monosomic gametes are most likely to produce a viable conceptus
- if the translocated segments are small in genetic content, adjacent 1 segregation is most likely to give rise to a viable, abnormal offspring
- if the centric segments are small in genetic content, adj 2 segregation is most likely to produce a viable, abnormal outcome
- if ONE chromosome in the quadrivalent is small in content, 3:1 segregation is most likely (the small chromosome could be a derivative OR chroms 13, 18, or 21)
- if the quadrivalent has properties of rules 3 and 5 OR 4 and 5, both adjacent and 3:1 segregations could give rise to a viable conceptus
- If the translocated and centric segments are large in content, NO viable offspring are possible
- If the translocated segments are BOTH subtelormeric, pairs may just join as bivalents (no quadrivalent) and segregate independently
What are the outcomes of different chromosomal imbalances
large: nonviable
moderate: a miscarriage or later fetal death
lesser: abnormal live birth (single segment imbalances from adjacent 1 segregation are usually the only viable conceptus
Describe the implications of translocation carriers on fetal outcome
61% of nonviable fetuses came from a translocation carrier mother and only 39% came from a carrier father
background pop risk for spontaneous abortion is 15%; the risk for a balanced t carrier ranges btwn 20-30% - risk depends on the size of the chromosome segment
couples with three or more miscarriages should undergo karyotype (some male carriers may be infertile due to arrested spermatogenesis)
What are some factors about translocation carriers that need to be determined before counseling a pt
mode of ascertainment
predicted type of segregation leading to potential viable gametes
sex of transmitting parent (mom more likely to pass on vs dad)
assessed imbalance of the potentially viable gamete
risk is ~25% for carriers to have an unbalanced fetal karyotype at amnio when there was a previously abnormal child
if the same balanced t is seen in a parent, there is NO INCREASED RISK for abnormality
in rare familial t’s, the rearrangement may promote mitotic malsegregation and disrupt a tumor suppressor gene, leading to increased cancer risks
What is the position effect
change in the level of gene expression caused by a change in a position of the gene relative to where it is normally found
What are the translocations implicated in cancer
chromosome 3 t’s, 5q, 11q, and 17p
What is a Robertsonian translocation
involves the acrocentric D and G group chromosomes. the t chromosome has 2 fused long arms and no short arms
heterologous t’s can pass through generations whereas homologous t’s are usually de novo (rare)
written as: 45,XX,der(14;21)(q10;q10)
What Robertsonian t’s are most commonly the cause of translocation DS
Rob(13q;21q) / Rob(14q;21q)
What are the three proposed mechanisms for Heterologous t’s
- centric fusion: fusion at the centromere forming a monocentric chromosome
- union following breakage in one short arm and one long arm: essentially a whole arm reciprocal t, resulting in a monocentric chromosome
- unition following breakage in both short arms: results in a DICENTRIC chromosome
What are the two mechanisms for Homologous t’s
fusion in the zygote of mat and pat homologs
can also result from an isochrom during meiosis