Principles of cytogenetics Flashcards
Cytogenetics
study of chromosomes, their structure and inheritance, as applied to the practice of medical genetics.
Chromosome sources
T-lymphocytes, chorionic villi, amniotic fluid. Arrest cells in metaphase since they are condensed and separated
Chromosome nomenclature
chromosome arms (p1, p2, q1,q2 etc) divided into regions counting outward from the centromere. Regions are divided into bands labeled p11, p12 . . . sub-bands: p11.1, p11.2 . . .sub-sub bands p11.21 p11.22 etc
Metacentric
centromere near central region of chromosome
Submetacentric
centromere is off center and arms are clearly of different lengths
Acrocentric*
centromere near one end (13, 14, 15, 21, 22, Y)-must know! Contain small distinctive masses of chromatin called satellites attached to their short arms by narrow stalks which contain hundreds of copies of ribosomal RNA genes. p arm consists only of rRNA; q arm will hold the important genes.
Telocentric
centromere at one end and only has a single arm ( does not occur in a normal human karyotype-unless mutation loss of p arm)
Giemsa banding (G banding)
Most common method;pro/metaphase cells treated with trypsin to digest proteins->Giemsa stain->produces light and dark bands. (400bands)
Quinacrine mustard (Q banding)
stain with fluorescent quinacrine mustard. Examine by fluorescence microscopy. Bright Q bands correspond exactly to dark G bands. Used to detect heteromorphisms/variants in chromosome morphology. reflect diffs in satellite DNA amts
R banding
“Reverse banding” chromosomes receive special treatment such heating before staining. Dark/light band pattern opposite of that observed by G or Q banding. Used to examine regions that stain poorly by G or Q banding. Common in Europe-abns clearly visualized.
T banding
“Telomere” IDs subset of R bands esp concentrated at telomeres. Exteme heat treatment before staining with Giemsa-combo of dyes and fluorochromes.
C banding
Staining CENTROMERIC REGIONS of each chrome and other regions containing CONSTITUTIVE HETEROCHROMATIN
High-Resolution banding (Prometaphase banding)
G or R banding of chromosomes from a prophase or pro metaphase cell. Less condensed chromatin useful to detect subtle structural abns in a chromosome. (850)
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
CHROMOSOMAL PAINTING-probes for entire chromosome or arm. SPECTRAL KARYOTYPING-can analyze multiple targets simultaneously utilizing diff fluorochromes. Cell culture still req’d, but no need to lyse, just add fluorochromes. Locus specific, satellite DNA, Chromosome paint.
Spectral karyotyping
Use diff colors/fluorochromes for all 24 chromosomes-> can ID abns.
Comparative Genome Hybridization (CGH)
small changes in # of copies of a DNA segment can be identified using CGH, measures the difference b/w 2 diff DNA samples in copy, or dosage of a particular DNA segment.
Microarray analysis
CGH adds info to karyotype, but doesn’t replace. Assess relative copy #, complements karyotyping, more sensitive, analyzes whole genome, but does not give info about structural changes i.e. translocations, rearrangements
Chromosome Abnormalities
Numerical or Structural, may involve autosomes or sex chromes or both.
*Euploidy
chromosome # that is a multiple of n (23)
Haploid is n=23
Diploid is 2n=46; normal somatic cells
*Heteroploidy
any chromosome complement other than 46.
Triploid (3n) and Tetraploid (4n)
euploid and heteroploid at the same time-not compatible with life-seen in abortion.
Triploid
3n, often due to fertilization by 2 sperm -failure of meiotic division -partial hydatidiform moles-> extra paternal -> abnormal placenta extra maternal-> spontaneously aborted
Tetrapoid
4n; failure to complete an early cleavage division of the zygote.(meiosis I)
Aneuploidy
Not a multiple of 23 or haploid #. A result of MEIOIC NONDISJUNCTION.
Monosomy, trisomy
monosomies and trisomies of 6 chromosomes are more compatible with life.
Monosomy
autosomal cell with only 1 copy of a chromosome-lethal
monosomy of sex chromosome-can survive
monosomy of autosome-death of zygote
Trisomy
3 copies of a chromosome- potentially lethal
Nondisjunction
failure of a pair of chromosomes to disjoin properly during one of the 2 meiotic divisions. usually meiosis I.