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8.6: Reading Karyotypes

  • Page ID
    24176
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    Activity

    1. Examine Karyotype 1 on the lab handout.
      a. Is this a male or female?
      b. Designate the karyotype using the symbols in the above examples.
    2. Examine Karyotype 2 on the handout. This newborn child was seen in neonatal ICU. Defects included: cleft lip and palate, onfunctional eyes, polydactyly of the hands, and heart defects.
      a. Is this a male or female?
      b. What type of chromosomal abnormality is shown?
      c. How many total chromosomes does this individual exhibit?
      d. Designate the karyotype using the symbols in the above examples.
      e. How could this abnormality occur?
    3. Examine Karyotype 3 on the handout. The mother of this 11-year old patient, stated that her child has always been a "little behind" in subjects requiring language skills. The patients’ teachers have commented that he/she is often inattentive and hyperactive. The patient is at the 85th percentile for height / 45th percentile for weight.
      a. Is this a male or female?
      b. What type of chromosomal abnormality is shown?
      c. How many total chromosomes does this individual exhibit?
      d. Designate the karyotype using the symbols in the above examples.
      e. Why must the abnormality be the result of nondisjunction occurring in a sperm cell?
    4. Examine Karyotype 4 on the handout. This 10 year old patient demonstrated poor academic performance and often experienced low self-esteem. There are often no physical manifestations seen other than the patient being in the 80% percentile for height with an occipitofrontal head circumference in the 30% percentile.
      Is this a male or female?
      a. What type of chromosomal abnormality is shown?
      b. How many total chromosomes does this individual exhibit?
      c. Designate the karyotype using the symbols in the above examples.
      d. How could this abnormality occur?

    This page titled 8.6: Reading Karyotypes is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ellen Genovesi, Laura Blinderman, & Patrick Natale via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.