Cytogenetics Flashcards
What is Xist?
An snRNA that “paints” the X chromosome to make it inactive
Located on the Q arm of the X chromosome
What is Tsix?
An antisense RNA that inhibits Xist, allowing the chromosome to become active.
What is Xite?
A transcription enhancer for Tsix
What are manifesting heterozygotes?
Females who express an X-linked disorder due to variations from random X-inactivation.
What is genetic imprinting?
Autosomal genes that are imprinted are epigenetically silenced.
“Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that causes genes to be expressed or not, depending on whether they are inherited from the female or male parent. Genes can also be partially imprinted.” - Wiki
What epigenetic mechanisms are present on an imprinted gene?
Methylation and hypo-acetylation
Maternal UPD (uniparental disomy) of chromosome 15:
Prader-Willi syndrome
Imprinting disorder arising from paternal deletion of chromosome 15
Paternal UPD (uniparental disomy) of chromosome 15:
Angelman syndrome
Imprinting disorder arising from maternal deletion of chromosome 15
During the G1 phase, genetic material is referred to as ______ ?
Chromatin, not visible by light microscopy.
What is the short arm of the chromosome called?
The P arm (petite)
What is the short arm of the chromosome called?
The P arm, which lies above the centromere
What is the long arm of the chromosome called?
The Q arm, which lies below the centromere
What are NORs?
Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are chromosomal landmarks that are made up of repeated ribosomal gene sequences (rRNA). They are located on the short arms (p arms) of acrocentric chromosomes, which include chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22 in humans. NORs are visible on metaphase chromosomes as secondary constrictions.
How can polyploidy arise?
Due to polyspermia or meiotic failure
How does aneuploidy typically arise?
Meiotic non-disjunction during meiosis I produces 50% disomic and 50% nullisomic sperm.
Is the outcome of nondisjunction worse when it occurs in meiosis I or II?
The outcomes are worse when it occurs in meiosis I. When nondisjunction occurs in meiosis II, 50% sperm are euploid, 25% disomic, and 25% nullisomic