Karyotyping Activity
In this activity, you will use a computer model to look at chromosomes and prepare a karyotype. You will diagnose patients for abnormalities and learn the correct notation for characterizing karyotypes.
Source: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Karyotype
www.biology.arizona.edu
Click on Karyotyping under human
biology and read the Introduction page:
1. What causes a dark band on the chromosome?
2. What is a centromere?
Patient Histories: *Click on Patient Histories. You will be completing a karyotype for Patient A, B & C
Patient A ( Click on the link to "Complete Patient A's Karyotype" )
*Match the chromosome to its homolog. After all the matches are complete you'll analyze your patient. (Scroll down to view your completed karyotype).
3. What is patient A's history (summarize)
4. How many total chromosomes are in your karyotype - count them
The last set of chromosomes is the sex chromosomes, if you have two large chromosomes, your patient is XX (female), one large and one small indicates and XY (male) . What sex chromosomes does your patient have
Which chromosome set has an extra +
5. What diagnosis would you give this patient (what disease)?
Patient B - click on the link to go to Patient B and repeat the above process.
6. What is Patient B's history (summarize)
7. How many total chromosomes are in your karyotype - count them
What sex chromosomes does your patient have
Which chromosome set has an extra +
8. Finish the notation for this patient's karyotype : 47 X
9. What is the diagnosis?
Patient C - click on the link to go to Patient C and repeat the above process.
10. What is patient C's history (summarize)?
11. How many total chromosomes are in your karyotype - count them
What sex chromosomes does your patient have
Which chromosome set has an extra +
12. Write out the correct notation for this karyotype.
13. What is the diagnosis?
Other Resources on Chromosomes
How to Interpret a Karyotype – examines images of human karyotypes to identify disorders
Chromosome Study – cut out chromosomes and tape them in pairs to construct a “paper” karyotype