First Week of notes Flashcards
Mendelian Laws
1) Law of segregation At meiosis each allele (2 total) of a gene separates so 50% of it goes to a different gamete, 50:50 ratio
Ex: Start with a diploid, double the chromatin so there are 92 chromosomes total (two doubles of 43)
Will ultimately separate via meiosis I and meiosis II into four separate genes
2) At meiosis the segregation of each pair of alleles in >2 genes is independent each 50:50 ratio
Each Gene will independently end up in a gamete
Genotype: The DNA sequence (allele(s)) at a particular locus
o Homozygous: 2 identical alleles at a given locus
o Heterozygous: 2 different alleles at a given locus
o Hemizygous: refers mostly to males (XY), who have just a single copy of each X-chromosomal gene
Basic Definitions in Mendelian Genetics
• Phenotype: The observed/measured trait
• Dominance: A phenotype that is expressed (observed) in the heterozygous state
• Recessive: A phenotype that is expressed only in homozygotes or hemizygotes.
o either aa or an xY (homozygous aa or an x-recessive with the Y)
• Semi-Dominant: When the heterozygous phenotype is intermediate between the two homozygous phenotypes
• Penetranceingeneticsis the proportion of individuals carrying a particular variant of agene(alleleorgenotype) that also expresses an associated trait (phenotype). Inmedical genetics, the penetrance of a disease-causing mutation is the proportion of individuals with the mutation who exhibit clinical symptoms. For example, if amutationin the gene responsible for a particularautosomal dominantdisorder has 95% penetrance, then 95% of those with the mutation will develop the disease, while 5% will not.
o Penetrance pretty much means how much they will express the gene/phenotype that exists from a genotype (70% penetrance will show the genotype expressed 70% more or will have the disease 70% more)
The pedigree (or family tree) is a graphical representation of the family tree o National Library of Medicine: The record of descent or ancestry, particularly of a particular condition or trait, indicating individual family members, their relationships, and their status with respect to the trait or condition.
- proband: (sometimes called the ‘propositus’ or ‘index case’) is the affected individual through whom a family with a genetic disorder is ascertained; may or may not be the consultand (see below)
- The consultand: is the individual (not necessarily affected) who presents for genetic evaluation and through whom a family with an inherited disorder comes to attention
- Consanguinity: identifies cases of genetic relatedness between individuals descended from at least one common ancestor (e.g. first-cousin marriages or even silbings
Inheritance patterns
1) Autosomal dominant Means that one of the two alleles will being primarily dominant
- Ex: XX, Xx, or xx only takes a single X in XX or Xx to have the gene show
- Will see the gene show “vertically” in an inheritance pattern tree, both males and females will have the trait
2) Autosomal Recessive Much more rare, need to have both of the recessive alleles for the gene to show
Example: AA, Aa, or aa
• Need to have the aa for the gene to show, otherwise the A will run rampant over it
• An Aa will be considered a carrier, as they will not show the phenotype/represent the gene, only will carry the “a” with them
3) X-linked Dominant Because the gene is located on the X chromosome, there is no transmission from father to son, but there can be transmission from father to daughter (all daughters of an affected male will be affected since the father has only one X chromosome to transmit).
-With the XX, Xx, or the Xy, xY, it has to an XX,Xx, or an XY
It is IMPOSSIBLE for a man to give it his son, only can give Y gene
• Man can give it to his daughter
-Children of an affected woman have a 50% chance of inheriting the X chromosome with the mutant allele. X-linked dominant disorders are clinically manifest when only one copy of the mutant allele is present.
4) X linked Recessive The disease will only manifest in males, due to the female giving a single x chromosome, and the male having to give a Y chromosome
- X-linked recessive traits are fully evident in males because they only have one copy of the X chromosome, thus do not have a normal copy of the gene to compensate for the mutant copy. For that same reason, women are rarely affected by X-linked recessive diseases
5) Mitochondrial Disease Will only be seen in ALL offspring if mother has the disease
- This is due to all mitochondrial genes coming from maternal inheritance
•Population Genetics–> The study of allele frequencies and how they change in a population
o Four main evolutionary forces affect allele frequencies:
1) natural selection
2) genetic drift
3)mutation
4) gene flow
o Population sampling by phenotype can lead to estimates of allele frequency if the underlying genetic mechanism is known (i.e. dominant vs. recessive // autosomal vs. sex-linked)
♣ It is critical in the case of phenotype, that the disease has a high penetrance
• Remember penetrance is related to how much the allele is expressed (high penetrance= highly expressed gene)
Example: Sad Clown disease with basic populations
♣ 100 people in a class, 1 person has the sad clown disease
100 people in a class, 1 person has the sad clown disease
• Prevelance= 1% (only 1 person has the disease)
• Mutation= 1
We are assuming the disease is a new mutation that could be considered autosomal dominant
• If everyone is cc, then one of the alleles mutated into a dominant C
What is the percentage of the mutant allele?
• 100* 2 alleles= 200 total alleles, than there is a .05% mutation rate or 1/200
Population rate Equation
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 can be used to estimate carrier rates
o P^2= the homozygous dominant (AA)
o Q^2= the homozygous Recesive (aa)
o 2pq = the hertozygous (Aa)
Also p+q=1
o Cystic Fibrosis (CF): Prevalence 1:2500
o q2 = 1:2500 q ≈ 1:50
o Carrier rate = 2pq 2(49/50)(1/50) ≈ 1/25
Sometimes it’s helpful to measure allele frequencies and use them to predict genotypes using the Hardy-Weinberg Law
o (alleles) p + q = 1 = p2 + 2pq + q2 (genotypes)
o [p=frequency of common allele; q=rare allele]
o Assumptions:
o Population is large and mating are random
o Allele frequencies remain constant over time because:
1) No appreciable rate of mutation
2) All genotypes are equally fit (equal chance to pass alleles to next generation)
3) No significant immigration/emigration of individuals with different allele frequencies
Most useful information for autosomal recessive diseases in population genetics?
Most useful for autosomal recessive diseases where you want to estimate carrier rates
Applied in genetic counseling situations to tell couples their risk of having a child affected with a particular disease
o Used in genetic counseling to predict risks for a couple to have an affected child
o Prevalence of disease is approximated by q2
o From q2 can calculate q, p, and then the carrier frequency 2pq
The Basic number info of the human genome
3 x 10^9 bp = haploid human genome sequence
Human genomic DNA is distributed on 46 nuclear chromosomes
23 pairs of human chromosomes:
o 22 autosomes (1-22)
o 1 pair of sex chromosomes (XX or XY)
Each chromosome is believed to consist of a single, continuous DNA double helix
o Chromosome number generally based on size:
Chr 1: 245,203,898 bp
Chr 22: 49,476,972 bp
Human genome represents human history, has changed over time as certain areas (such as the Olfactory portion on chromosome 11) have become invalid over time
o Genotype (genome) + Environment = Phenotype o Random variation in a highly ordered structure = almost always deleterious consequences
Genetic diseases from variation–> Price to pay for possibility to evolve with changing genome
Genome Basics of Chromatin
o There are highly expressed regions = eurochromatin
-Chromosome 19 is highly expressed
o There are poorly expressed regions and chromosomes= heterochromatin
Most likely Chromosomes for Trisomies
Chromosome 13,18, and 21 (viable for trisomies)
-Atrisomyis a type ofpolysomyin which there are three instances of a particularchromosome, instead of the normal twoMuch of the chromosomes are stable, unstable regions however are disease associated
-e.g. SMA (Chr 5q13); DiGeorge syndrome (Chr 22q); 12 diseases associated with unstable region on Chr 1 (1q21.1)GC-rich regions (38% of genome), AT-rich regions (54% of genome)
Genome predominance A–T and G–C
- The A-T region is the most dominant
- GC-rich regions (38% of genome), AT-rich regions (54% of genome)
- Clustering (i.e. non-random distribution) of GC-rich and AT-rich regions is basis for chromosomal banding patterns (cytogenetics, karyotype analysis)
Notice that chromosome size does not necessarily mean how much its going to be expressed
Chromosome 19 is smaller, but THIRD most expressed
Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome in 2004
The initial genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps
o It covers 99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of 1 event per 100,000 bases
-Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods
o The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death
Composition of the Human genome
o ~1.5% is translated (protein coding)
-A tiny portion (roughly 1.5 percent) is actually translated as protein
o 20-25% is represented by genes (exons, introns, flanking sequences involved in regulating gene expression)
o 50% “single copy” sequences
-One gene/one copy
-Does not have multiple copies like repetitive DNA
o 40-50% classes of “repetitive DNA”
-Three major categories of repetitive DNA (Terminal repeats, Tandem repeats, Interspersed repeats)
Current Status of mapping remainder of Euchromatic DNA
Euchromatic regions (more relaxed) and heterochromatic regions (more condensed; more repeat-rich)
o Genome sequencing efforts focused on euchromatic regions
o Heterochromatic regions essentially unsequenced
o Many (>200) sequence gaps still remain even in euchromatic regions
Amount of content for Genome
o Less than 1.5% of genome expresses for proteins, another 5% is regulatory region (promoters, enhancers, ect.)
o Roughly half of the genome is Single-Copy or Unique DNA (roughly 50%)
-Single Copy/ Unique DNA DNA whose linear order of nucleotides is unique
• Much of single copy DNA is still mysterious, as only roughly 1.5% of it encodes for proteins
• Each is roughly several kilobases (several thousand base-pairs)
o Other half of Genome (50%) is repetitive DNA–> DNA whose nucleotides are repeated
Repetitive DNA
• Repetitive DNA for repeated nucleotide sequences, important to note if the repeated sequences in the same location or are interspersed throughout the chromosome
Tandem Repeats A tandem repeat is a sequence of two or more DNA base pairs that is repeated in such a way that the repeats lie adjacent to each other on the chromosome. Tandem repeats are generally associated with non-coding DNA.
• Tandem repeats are called “tandem” becase the repeated sequences start head to tail of one another
♣ Satellite DNA different types of Tandem Repeats, these are large arrays of repeating nucleotides
• Alpha Satellite DNA repeating DNA in centromeres
Dispersed Repetitive Elements Instead of being on a specific chromosome or several locations, these are repetitive DNA that’s throughout the genome (on multiple chromosomes)
2 Major families of Dispersed repetitive elements
• ALU family a type of dispersed resistive element seen on many chromosomes, they are a repeating 300 base pairs
o At least a million different Alu families
o Make up 10% of the genome
•LINE (Long interspected Nuclear Elements) The second major dispersed component of repetitive DNA, is roughly 6 kb long (6000 base pairs)
o Roughly 850,000 copies per genome and makes up 20% of the genome
2 Major families of Dispersed repetitive elements
Dispersed Repetitive Elements Instead of being on a specific chromosome or several locations, these are repetitive DNA that’s throughout the genome (on multiple chromosomes)
• ALU family a type of dispersed resistive element seen on many chromosomes, they are a repeating 300 base pairs
o At least a million different Alu families
o Make up 10% of the genome
• LINE (Long interspected Nuclear Elements) The second major dispersed component of repetitive DNA, is roughly 6 kb long (6000 base pairs)
o Roughly 850,000 copies per genome and makes up 20% of the genome
Tandem Repeats
Type of repetitive DNAo Tandem Repeats A tandem repeat is a sequence of two or more DNA base pairs that is repeated in such a way that the repeats lie adjacent to each other on the chromosome. Tandem repeats are generally associated with non-coding DNA.
• Tandem repeats are called “tandem” becase the repeated sequences start head to tail of one another
Satellite DNA different types of Tandem Repeats, these are large arrays of repeating nucleotides
• Alpha Satellite DNA repeating DNA in centromeres
SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism)
o A change in one in every 1000 nucleotide base pairs, will change between an A—T or an G—C
Occur more often in non-coding genome
Can have consequences in coding genome such as changing a codon to a stop codon and such
Insertion-Deletion Polymorphism
•Insertion-Deletion Polymorphism any type of insertion or deletion of base-pairs that can range from a single base pair to over a thousand
oMicrosatellite Polymorphism Are strands of DNA that are a few base pairs/alleles that repeat 5-50 times approximately
-Can be used for DNA fingerprinting, as people RARLY have similar microsatellite patterns
-Also called Short Tandem Repeats
Copy Number Variants
Copy Number Variants similar to microsatellites, but are variations of larger segments of the genome
o The smaller CNVS can be only several alleles or it can be up to many different alleles
o A copy number variation (CNV) is when the number of copies of a particular gene varies from one individual to the next.
- Following the completion of the Human Genome Project, it became apparent that the genome experiences gains and losses of genetic material. The extent to which copy number variation contributes to human disease is not yet known. It has long been recognized that some cancers are associated with elevated copy numbers of particular genes.
Classes of Repetitive DNA
1) Tandem Repeats Tandem: repeats occur in DNA when a pattern of one or more nucleotides is repeated and the repetitions are directly adjacent to each other.
2) Long Terminal Repeats: are identical sequences of DNA that repeat hundreds or thousands of times found at either end of retrotransposons or proviral DNA formed by reverse transcription of retroviral RNA[citation needed. They are used by viruses to insert their genetic material into the host genomes.
o 3) Dispersed Repetitive Elements Across different chromosomes! Can have families of repeat such as Alu or LINE
Tandem Repeats
Tandem Repeats Tandem–> repeats occur in DNA when a pattern of one or more nucleotides is repeated and the repetitions are directly adjacent to each other.
• Satellite DNA consists of very large arrays oftandemlyrepeating,non-coding DNA. Satellite DNA is the main component of functionalcentromeres, and form the main structural constituent ofheterochromatin.[1][2]
- Some (a particular pentanucleotide sequence) are found as part of human-specific heterochromatic regions on the long arms of Chr 1, 9, 16 and Y (hotspots for human-specific evolutionary changes)
- On Chromosome 1,9,16, and Y, can major differences in DNA at C-bands not seen in primates
“α-satellite” repeats (171 bp repeat unit) around centromeres
• Type of satellite repeating seen around the Centromere (the center of the chromosome)
• Might be critical for function centromeres during mitosis and meiosis (as the chromosomes split)
Human chromosomes that are “evolutionary hotspots”
Some (a particular satellite sequence) are found as part of human-specific heterochromatic regions on the long arms of Chr 1, 9, 16 and Y (hotspots for human-specific evolutionary changes)
-On Chromosome 1,9,16, and Y, can major differences in DNA at C-bands not seen in primates
Long Terminal Repeats
are identical sequences of DNA that repeat hundreds or thousands of times found at either end of retrotransposons or proviral DNA formed by reverse transcription of retroviral RNA[citation needed. They are used by viruses to insert their genetic material into the host genomes.
Dispersed Repetitive Elements
Dispersed Repetitive Elements Across different chromosomes! Can have families of repeated DNA base pairs
1) Alu family (e.g. of SINEs: Short Interspersed repetitive Elements) - ~300 bp related members - 500,000 copies in genome
• AnAlu elementis a short stretch ofDNAoriginally characterized by the action of the Alu (Arthrobacter luteus)restrictionendonuclease.[1]Alu elements of different kinds occur in large numbers in primategenomes. In fact, Alu elements are the most abundanttransposable elementsin the human genome.
o Remember a Transposable element is a portion of a chromosome that repeats multiple times, while Dispersed Repetitive Elements are across multiple chromosome
2) L1 family (e.g. of LINES: Long Interspersed repetitive Elements) - ~6 kb related members - 100,000 copies in genome
• Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements9 are a group of genetic elements that are found in large numbers in eukaryotic genomes, composing 17% of the human genome (99.9% of which is no longer capable of mobilization).[10]Among the LINE, there are several subgroups, such as L1, L2 and L3. Human codingL1 begin with an untranslated region(UTR) that includes anRNA polymerase IIpromoter, two non-overlappingopen reading frames(ORF1 and ORF2), and ends with another UTR.
Alu’s and L1’s can be of significant medical relevance
• Retrotransposition may cause insertional inactivation of genes
• Repeats may facilitate aberrant recombination events between different copies of dispersed repeats leading to diseases - Non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR)
Insertion-Deletion Polymorphisms
o Minisatellites is a tract of repetitive DNA in which certain DNA motifs (ranging in length from 10–60 base pairs) are typically repeated 5-50 times.[1] Minisatellites occur at more than 1,000 locations in the human genome and they are notable for their high mutation rate and high diversity in the population.
o Microsatellites a tract of repetitive DNA in which certain DNA motifs (ranging in length from 2–5 base pairs) are repeated, typically 5-50 times.[1] Microsatellites occur at thousands of locations in the human genome and they are notable for their high mutation rate and high diversity in the population.
- Shorter versions of minisattelites, they are only di, tri, and quad repeats
- STRPs (Short Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms)
Microsatellites and VNTR
oMicrosatellites and their longer cousins, theminisatellites, together are classified asVNTR(variable number of tandem repeats) DNA. The name”satellite”refers to the early observation that centrifugation of genomic DNA in a test tube separates a prominent layer of bulk DNA from accompanying “satellite” layers of repetitive DNA.
VNTR is a location in a genome where a short nucleotide sequence is organized as a tandem repeat. These can be found on many chromosomes, and often show variations in length between individuals. Each variant acts as an inherited allele, allowing them to be used for personal or parental identification.
• Tandem repeats groups of nucleotides right next to each other that repeat over and over again
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
• a mutation in a single nucleotide at a base-pair
-frequency of 1 in ~1000 bp -PCR-detectable markers, easy to score, widely distributed
Copy number variations
CNV–> A form of structural variation—are alterations of the DNA of a genome that results in the cell having an abnormal or, for certain genes, a normal variation in the number of copies of one or more sections of the DNA. CNVs correspond to relatively large regions of the genome that have been deleted (fewer than the normal number) or duplicated (more than the normal number) on certain chromosomes.
•CNV (Copy Number Variations) A genome having copies (normal or abnormal of other sections of the DNA strand
o Primary type of structural vartion seen with the Genome
o CNV loci account for about 12% of the genome
-A huge amount of the genome are CNVs
o CNV is implicated in many different diseases =having too many versions of a gene or an abnormal gene
o CNV is also highly involved with evolutionary changes:
♣ enriched for human specific gene duplications
♣ enriched for genome sequence gaps
♣ enriched for recurrent human diseases
♣ Chromosomes: - 1q21.1; 9p13.3-9q21.12, 5q13.3
Gene families and duplication
o Many human genes are members of gene families
o Gene family is composed of genes with high sequence similarity (e.g. >85-90%) that may carry out similar but distinct functions
o Gene families arise through gene duplication, a major mechanism underlying evolutionary change. Rationale: when a gene duplicates it frees up one copy to vary while the other copy continues to carry out a critical function
-Allows innovation, and possibility of staying alive
-Hox family
Limitations for Genome Sequencing
o Nextgen DNA Sequencing
- No mammalian genome has been completely sequenced & assembled
- Nextgen sequencing relies on short read sequences Complex, highly duplicated regions are typically unexamined Such regions are implicated in numerous diseases, e.g. 1q21
o Genome-Wide Association Studies
- Missing heritability” for complex diseases: Many large-scale studies implicate loci (e.g. SNPs) that account for only a small fraction of the expected genetic contribution
- Many regions of the genomes are unexamined by available “genome-wide” screening technologies: is this where the “missing heritability” lies?
Meiosis: the process where a diploid cell ultimately goes from being a single diploid (2N in genetic content) to becoming haploid (n in genetic content) with 4 gamete cells (2n–>4n—> 2x2n—> 4x 1n)
Key notes for Meiosis and mitosis
o During Meiosis I The two homolog chromosomes will pair and face each other inside the cell
-Homologous chromosomes will split away to separate into other cells
- During prophase I the chromosomes will form stuctures called “bivalents” which are the chromosomes linking up next to each other
•This will cause the chromosomes to form a synaptonemal complex–> Allows the Chiasmata to hook up the chromosomes with one another
During the metaphase I, homologous recombination underwent, allowing for genetic recombination to happen
• Chiasmata–> A physical link in meiosis I that allows DNA material to be exchanged between the homologous chromosomes
Homolog pairs in mitosis rarely have recombination rarely have recombination
Meisos II and Mitosis are more similar, as Sister chromatin will split to separate sides
Meisos II: The homolog chromosomes will split in each cell to form 4 haploid cells with one set of 23 chromosomes
Mitosis The sister chromatid (at 92 total chromosomes) will split into respective sides for normal diploid cells at 46 chromosomes
Chiasmata
Chiasmata–> A physical link in meiosis I that allows DNA material to be exchanged between the homologous chromosomes
Meiosis II and Mitosis
Meisos II and Mitosis are more similar, as Sister chromatin will split to separate sides
Meisos II: The homolog chromosomes will split in each cell to form 4 haploid cells with one set of 23 chromosomes
Mitosis The sister chromatid (at 92 total chromosomes) will split into respective sides for normal diploid cells at 46 chromosomes
Chiasmata
A physical link in meiosis I that allows DNA material to be exchanged between the homologous chromosomes
Genetic consequences from meiosis
o Allowed for genetic shuffling roughly 2-3 cross-overs during meiosis I
o Also random segregation based on homologous split, each chromosome has different DNA from recombination and from homolgous split during meisos I
Mitosis
• one round of chromosome segregation, resulting in daughter cells identical inchromosomal content to the parental cell
• DNA replication precedes each round of chromosome segregation
• no pairing of homologous chromosomes
-only sister chromatids will pair
-centromeres on paired sister chromatids segregate at each anaphase
• infrequent recombination
• occurs in somatic cells and in germ line precursor cells prior to entry into meiosis
Meiosis
• two rounds of chromosome segregation without an intervening round of DNA replication
• parental cells must be diploid and the chromosome number is halved in the resultant cells
• requires the pairing of homologous chromosomes and recombination for its successful completion
o centromeres on paired sister chromatids divide only at anaphase II in a normal meiosis
• occurs only in the germ line
Chromosome Identification and nomenclature:
• Chromosomes are numbered based on size, with chromosome 1 being the largest and 22 being the smallest
o No base on amount of expression
o Much of the classification of chromosomes is based around the centromere
Human chromosomes are put into three different categories
o 1) Metacentric: The centromere is directly in the center of the chromosome, so that both arms are equal length
o 2) Submetacentric: The centromere is slightly removed or a slight distance from the center
o 3) Acrocentric: The Centromere is near one end of the chromosome
Chromosomes are also identified and labeled based on where specific bands are from dyes
o banding patterns observed microscopically after treatment with stains such as Giemsa and DAPI (4’,6-diamino-2- phenylindole. These patterns result from the differential staining of various chromosomal regions (e.g. regions with high G+C, or A+T base compositions, or the presence of heterochromatin)
-G-banding, G banding, or Giemsa banding is a technique used in cytogenetics to produce a visible karyotype by staining condensed chromosomes. It is useful for identifying genetic diseases through the photographic representation of the entire chromosome complement. The metaphase chromosomes are treated with trypsin (to partially digest the chromosome) and stained with Giemsa stain. Heterochromatic regions, which tend to be rich with adenine and thymine (AT-rich) DNA and relatively gene-poor, stain more darkly in G-banding.
Names of the Chromosome arms
o p-arm: The smaller arm of the chromosome, known as the P arm due to being the petite arm
- remember the P –arm is PETITE
- q-arm: The larger arm of the chromosome
o Each chromosomes is labeled based on regions, counting OUT form the centromere
-Example: P1, P2, P3, going out on the petitie arm from the centromere
-13 Q2, 13Q4 working outward on the Q (large) arm of the chromosome from the centromere
o Convenient to say proximal or distal part of chromosome arm 13Q proximal or 13 Q distal (proximal or distal to centromere)
Nomenclature of chromosome abnormalities: Numerical abnormalities:
o Triploidy 69,XXX; 69 XXY; 69,XYY
o Trisomy e.g. 47,XX,+21
o Monosomy e.g. 45,X
o Mosaicism e.g. 45,X/46,XX
Chromosomal Abnormalities
Aneuploidy: Where a cell has an abnormal number of chromosomes, often caused by nondisjunction
Nondisjunction: the failure of chromosomes to separate/ mis-segregate during metaphase of meiosis or mitosis, ultimately daughter cell will have too many or too few chromosomes
- Based around the mechanics of the chiasmata during metaphase I,
- Different errors can arise based on distance of recombination from the centromere (too close or too far from centromere can lead to issues
• Crossover too distal from centromere: Can increase the chance spindle attachment error
• Crossover to proximal to centromere: Can lead to entanglement, greater chances of disjunction
More likely crossover= greater chance of Nondisjunction
o Mosonomy–> Cell is lacking one chromosome
- Example: 45,X
- Is usually lethal at an embryonic example, save for 45,X which Lead’s to Turner’s syndrome
o Trisomy–> Have an entire extra copy of a chromosome
- Example: 47XX, +21 (extra chromosome at 21)
- Not as lethal as a Mosonomy
- Yet often leads to spontaneous abortions
- Down’s syndrome is most common chromosomal disorder from Trisomy
Aneuploidy
Aneuploidy–> Where a cell has an abnormal number of chromosomes, often caused by nondisjunction
Nondisjunction
o Nondisjunction the failure of chromosomes to separate/ mis-segregate during metaphase of meiosis or mitosis, ultimately daughter cell will have too many or too few chromosomes
-Based around the mechanics of the chiasmata during metaphase I,
Different errors can arise based on distance of recombination from the centromere (too close or too far from centromere can lead to issues
• Crossover too distal from centromere: Can increase the chance spindle attachment error
• Crossover to proximal to centromere: Can lead to entanglement, greater chances of disjunction
More likely crossover= greater chance of Nondisjunction
Maternal Age effect
As women age, there is a greater chance of aneuploidy of the chromosomes
o “two hit theory” as women age, several events may be causing aging
1) first event is lack of recombination, possibly due to lack of chiasma or misslocalization of the chromosomes
2) second event is ability of oocytes to successfully complete chromosome segregation in the presence of unfavorable recombination events is thought to diminish over time
o Second possibility of maternal age effect The degradation of cohesion complexes during meisos I will lead to eventual aneuploidy
Cohesion Complex is a protein complex that regulates the separation of sister chromatids during cell division, either mitosis or meiosis. Aging will lead to degredation of these proteins, and premature termination
• With aging, this complex is possibly degrading over time, allowing the Chiasmata separate towards the ends of the chromosomes
o The chiasmata “terminalizing” towards the end will lead to aneuploidy
Cohesion Complex
Cohesion Complex is a protein complex that regulates the separation of sister chromatids during cell division, either mitosis or meiosis. Aging will lead to degredation of these proteins, and premature termination
With aging, this complex is possibly degrading over time, allowing the Chiasmata separate towards the ends of the chromosomes
o The chiasmata “terminalizing” towards the end will lead to aneuploidy
Common Human Aneuploidy Syndromes:
o Trisomy 21 – Down syndrome Characteristic facies, short stature, hypotonia, moderate intellectual disabilities Cardiac anomalies, leukemia in infancy.
o Trisomy 18 – Edwards syndrome Small for gestational age, small head, clenched fingers, rocker-bottom feet
o Trisomy 13 – Patau syndrome Characteristic facies, severe intellectual disabilities Congenital malformations – holoprosencephaly, facial clefts, polydactyly, renal anomalies
o 45, X -Turner syndrome Short stature, webbed neck, edema of hands and feet, broad shield-like chest, narrow hips, renal and cardiovascular anomalies, gonadal dysgenesis (failure of ovarian maintenance).
o 47, XXY – Klinefelter syndrome Tall stature, hypogonadism, elevated frequency of gynecomastia, high frequency of sterility, language impairment
Mosaicism
Mosaicism–> Is two genetically different cells in tissue that derived from the same single zygote.
o Can be different cells throughout an organism that have different genetic makeup
o Condition typically derives from nondisjunction of a single cell that is prenatal (before birth), sometimes postnatal
Each cell from the nondisjunction can continue to divide and create cells that have different genotypes
o Example: one of the milder forms of Klinefelter syndrome, called 46/47 XY/XXY mosaic wherein some of the patient’s cells contain XY chromosomes, and some contain XXY chromosomes. The 46/47 annotation indicates that the XY cells have the normal number of 46 total chromosomes, and the XXY cells have a total of 47 chromosomes.