Definitions Flashcards
Major (morphologic) anomaly
Anatomic phenotype that represents as substantial departure from the reference population
Minor (morphologic) anomaly
Anatomic phenotype that is observed in less than 4% of the population that has no functional or cosmetic importance
Morphologic Variant of Normal
Anatomic phenotype found in more than 4% of the population but is still a small departure from the reference population.
Malformation
A non-progressive, congenital morphologic anomaly of a single organ or body part due to an alteration of the primary developmental program.
Abnormal developmental genes lead to abnormal tissue development
Deformation
Altered shape or position of a body part due to aberrant mechanical forces that distorts an otherwise normal structure.
May result in loss of symmetry, altered alignment, abnormal position, or distorted configuration
Can happen anytime in gestation or after birth. The earlier the occurrence the more difficult to correct or can cause permanent alteration of structural relationships.
Normal genes, normal tissue development UNTIL internal or external mechanical forces exerts influence on the anatomic phenotype
Disruption
A non-progressive, congenital morphologic anomaly due to breakdown of a body structure that had normal developmental potential.
Occur during fetal development
Multiple causes: vascular, infectious, teratogenic, mechanical
Can result in secondary malformation or sequence
Normal genes, normal tissue development until the destructive influence leads to abnormal tissue development.
Dysplasia
A morphologic anomaly arising either prenatally or postnatally from dynamic or ongoing alteration of cellular constitution, tissue organization or function within a specific organ or a specific tissue type.
Can be localized or widespread
Abnormal genes result in abnormal tissue development. This often continues postnatally.
Syndrome
A pattern of anomalies, at least one of which is morphologic, known or thought to be causally related
Multiple anomalies are caused directly and independently by the underlying etiologic abnormality (ex Trisomy 21)
Anomaly (morphologic)
An anatomic (microscopic and macroscopic) phenotype that represents a substantial departure (
Sequence
One or more secondary morphologic anomalies known or presumed to cascade from a single malformation, disruption, dysplasia, or deformation
Association
A pattern of anomalies, at least two of which are morphologic, that occur together more often than would be expected by chance, and where a causal relationship has not been identified.
Ex: VACTERL/VATER association
Acrocentric
A chromosome where the centromere is near one end. The gene coding material is usually located only on the long arm.
Includes chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22
Allele
One of several alternative forms of a gene occupying a given locus on a chromosome
Allele drop out (ADO)
The failure, for technical reasons to detect an allele that is present in a sample
The failure to amplify an allele during a polymerase chain reaction
Allele frequency
The frequency in a population of each allele at a polymorphic locus
Alternative splicing
A mechanism by which different forms of mature mRNAs are generated from the same gene.
Different exons from a single gene are used to produce isoforms of a protein
Full Aneuploidy
Abnormal chromosome number differing from the usual diploid or haploid set by loss or addition of one or a small number of chromosomes
It can be the result of non-disjunction in:
- premeiotic mitotic division in the germline of either parent
- first or second meiotic division in either parent
- early embryonic mitotic (postzygotic) division in an affected individual
Partial Aneuploidy
Imbalance resulting from the gain or loss of part of a chromosome
Anticipation
Worsening of disease severity in successive generations.
Characteristically occurs in triplet repeat disorders where there is expansion of the triplet repeat in the maternal or paternal line
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death