The following table summarizes symbols and abbreviations used in cytogenetics: [1] [2]
Symbol | Description |
---|---|
, | Separates modal number (total number of chromosomes), sex chromosomes, and chromosome abnormalities |
- | Loss of a chromosome |
( ) | Grouping for breakpoints and structurally altered chromosomes |
+ | Gain of a chromosome |
; | Separates rearranged chromosomes and breakpoints involving more than one chromosome |
/ | Separates cell lines or clones |
// | Separates recipient and donor cell lines in bone marrow transplants |
del | Deletion |
der | Derivative chromosome |
dic | Dicentric chromosome |
dim | diminished signal intensity |
dn | de novo (not inherited) chromosomal abnormality |
dup | Duplication of a portion of a chromosome |
enh | enhanced signal intensity |
fra | Fragile site (usually used with fragile X syndrome) |
h | Heterochromatic region of chromosome |
i | Isochromosome |
idic | Isodicentric chromosome (duplication & inversion of centromere-containing segment) |
ins | Insertion |
inv | Inversion |
.ish | Precedes karyotype results from FISH analysis |
mar | Marker chromosome |
mat | Maternally-derived chromosome rearrangement |
p | Short arm of a chromosome |
pat | Paternally-derived chromosome rearrangement |
psu dic | pseudo dicentric – only one centromere in a dicentric chromosome is active |
q | Long arm of a chromosome |
r | Ring chromosome |
t | Translocation |
ter | Terminal end of arm (e.g. 2qter refers to the end of the long arm of chromosome 2) |
tri | Trisomy |
trp | Triplication of a portion of a chromosome |
An autosome is any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome. The members of an autosome pair in a diploid cell have the same morphology, unlike those in allosomal pairs, which may have different structures. The DNA in autosomes is collectively known as atDNA or auDNA.
A chromosome is a package of DNA with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are the histones. These proteins, aided by chaperone proteins, bind to and condense the DNA molecule to maintain its integrity. These chromosomes display a complex three-dimensional structure, which plays a significant role in transcriptional regulation.
A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of chromosomes in the cells of a species or in an individual organism, mainly including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. Karyotyping is the process by which a karyotype is discerned by determining the chromosome complement of an individual, including the number of chromosomes and any abnormalities.
The Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes in therian mammals and other organisms. Along with the X chromosome, it is part of the XY sex-determination system, in which the Y is the sex-determining chromosome because the presence of the Y chromosome causes offspring produced in sexual reproduction to be of male sex. In mammals, the Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which triggers development of male gonads. The Y chromosome is passed only from male parents to male offspring.
Cytogenetics is essentially a branch of genetics, but is also a part of cell biology/cytology, that is concerned with how the chromosomes relate to cell behaviour, particularly to their behaviour during mitosis and meiosis. Techniques used include karyotyping, analysis of G-banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).
In genetics, chromosome translocation is a phenomenon that results in unusual rearrangement of chromosomes. This includes balanced and unbalanced translocation, with two main types: reciprocal, and Robertsonian translocation. Reciprocal translocation is a chromosome abnormality caused by exchange of parts between non-homologous chromosomes. Two detached fragments of two different chromosomes are switched. Robertsonian translocation occurs when two non-homologous chromosomes get attached, meaning that given two healthy pairs of chromosomes, one of each pair "sticks" and blends together homogeneously.
Irene Ayako Uchida, was a Canadian scientist and Down syndrome researcher.
T.C. Hsu, was a Chinese American cell biologist. He was the 13th president of American Society for Cell Biology, and known as the Father of Mammalian Cytogenetics.
Human genetics is the study of inheritance as it occurs in human beings. Human genetics encompasses a variety of overlapping fields including: classical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, genomics, population genetics, developmental genetics, clinical genetics, and genetic counseling.
In genetics, a locus is a specific, fixed position on a chromosome where a particular gene or genetic marker is located. Each chromosome carries many genes, with each gene occupying a different position or locus; in humans, the total number of protein-coding genes in a complete haploid set of 23 chromosomes is estimated at 19,000–20,000.
Chromosome 13 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 13 spans about 113 million base pairs and represents between 3.5 and 4% of the total DNA in cells.
Chromosome 18 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 18 spans about 80 million base pairs and represents about 2.5 percent of the total DNA in cells.
Genetic analysis is the overall process of studying and researching in fields of science that involve genetics and molecular biology. There are a number of applications that are developed from this research, and these are also considered parts of the process. The base system of analysis revolves around general genetics. Basic studies include identification of genes and inherited disorders. This research has been conducted for centuries on both a large-scale physical observation basis and on a more microscopic scale. Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research.
The short-stature homeobox gene (SHOX), also known as short-stature-homeobox-containing gene, is a gene located on both the X and Y chromosomes, which is associated with short stature in humans if mutated or present in only one copy (haploinsufficiency).
G-banding, G banding or Giemsa banding is a technique used in cytogenetics to produce a visible karyotype by staining condensed chromosomes. It is the most common chromosome banding method. It is useful for identifying genetic diseases through the photographic representation of the entire chromosome complement.
A chromosomal abnormality, chromosomal anomaly, chromosomal aberration, chromosomal mutation, or chromosomal disorder is a missing, extra, or irregular portion of chromosomal DNA. These can occur in the form of numerical abnormalities, where there is an atypical number of chromosomes, or as structural abnormalities, where one or more individual chromosomes are altered. Chromosome mutation was formerly used in a strict sense to mean a change in a chromosomal segment, involving more than one gene. Chromosome anomalies usually occur when there is an error in cell division following meiosis or mitosis. Chromosome abnormalities may be detected or confirmed by comparing an individual's karyotype, or full set of chromosomes, to a typical karyotype for the species via genetic testing.
A marker chromosome (mar) is a small fragment of a chromosome which generally cannot be identified without specialized genomic analysis due to the size of the fragment. The significance of a marker is variable as it depends on what material is contained within the marker. The large majority of these marker chromosomes are smaller than one of the smaller human chromosomes, chromosome 20, and by definition are termed small supernumerary marker chromosomes.
The International System for Human Cytogenomic Nomenclature is an international standard for human chromosome nomenclature, which includes band names, symbols, and abbreviated terms used in the description of human chromosome and chromosome abnormalities.
Grant Robert Sutherland is a retired Australian human geneticist and celebrated cytogeneticist. He was the Director, Department of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital for 27 years (1975-2002), then became the Foundation Research Fellow there until 2007. He is an Emeritus Professor in the Departments of Paediatrics and Genetics at the University of Adelaide.