Purchase Solution

Aneuploidy and Down Syndrome

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Organisms vary widely in the number of chromosomes per cell. The ant, Myrmecia pilosula, has only two chromosomes (one pair) per cell. By contrast, the fern, Ophioglossum, has up to 1260 chromosomes (630 pairs) per cell. This variation among organisms seems to be unrelated to how complex those species are. The precise chromosome number, though, seems to be an important characteristic. So an ant with one pair of chromosomes must have just one pair of chromosomes. And a fern with 1260 chromosomes must have 1260 chromosomes. Any different number results in changes in characteristics that are often so dramatic that the organisms cannot survive.

Aneuploidies

Humans typically have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) per cell. Human aneuploidies are conditions where the chromosome number is not 46.

Select a human aneuploidy.
Describe the symptoms of this human aneuploidy.
Explain the cellular processes that lead to this condition.
Is it possible to treat aneuploidies in utero?
In your opinion, should we treat aneuploidies in utero?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This response offers an example of a human disease that results from aneuploidy. It discusses the symptoms of Down Syndrome and evaluates whether people with these types of genetic disorders can be treated in utero.

Solution Preview

You are correct in saying that chromosome number has nothing to do with organism complexity. I would certainly say that a fern is less complicated than an ant, but yet has significantly more chromosomes. Humans usually have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). However, when certain things happen during development, this number can change.

Probably the most common aneupoidy is referred to as Down Syndrome. This occurs when a person ends up with an extra 21st chromosome. Instead of having 46 they have 47. Down Syndrome (which I suggest you investigate further to find out more about it) results in several general physical features that indicate a person has the syndrome. These include:

Spot on the colored parts of the eyes
Decreased muscle tone
Short, stubby fingers
Short neck, with excess skin at the back of the neck
Flattened facial profile and nose
Upward slanting ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Feeding Babies

Do you know the science behind feeding babies? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Light and Sight Vocabulary

This quiz introduces basic definitions of vocabulary related to light and how human eyes. This information is important for an understanding of sight.

Comfort Measures For Labor

Are you ready to doula someone through labor?

Birth 101

Do you know about childbirth? Find out with this quiz.

BIOLOGY

Basics in biology

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Chromosomal Aberrations in Animals and Plants

    Chromosomal aberration cause diseases such as Down's syndrome and Cridu-chat syndrome due to autosomal Aneuploidy and Klinefelter's Syndrome and Turner's syndrome due to allosomal Anueploidy.

  • Human Genetics Quiz

    Diagnosis of Klinefelter's syndrome Klinefelter's syndrome (XXY) is an example of chromosomal aneuploidy that can be readily diagnosed by: A. Behavioral analysis B. Somatic cell genetics C. Karyotyping D. Biochemical analysis E.

  • Test Questions In Sex Determination

    What syndrome is characterized by an XXY genotype? What syndrome is characterized by an XXX genotype? What can you learn about this syndrome? Aneuploidy is defined as an abnormal number of chromosomes.

  • Meiotic Nondisjunction

    Syndrome XXY: Klinefelter Syndrome XXX: Metafemale XO: Turner Syndrome Meiotic nondisjunction events will create aneuploid gametes.

  • Down syndrome

    Most Down syndrome conceptions do not survive to birth. What is the overall frequency of Down syndrome children born to Down syndrome mothers who carry these translocations? Please see the attachments for figures and explanation.

  • Including of Students with Down Syndrome

    Call a school/community meeting or conference on Downs Syndrome Inclusion inviting the parents and have as quest speakers experts and researchers and parents of children with Down Syndrome and perhaps children with Downs Syndrome all speak (exposure)

  • Down Syndrome

    Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 (or an extra part of that chromosome). In this situation, both the mother and father have Down syndrome.

  • Down syndrome,Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome

    586174 Down syndrome,Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome I need help with two paragraphs each on the following: symptoms of down symdrome, turner syndrome, and klinefelter syndrome.

  • Ideas on writing research paper: congenital diseases

    You should discuss the type of chromosomal disorder that Down Syndrome is, the Adaptive ability of Down Syndrome children and young adults, their intellectual and neurological growth development, the diagnostic tests used to identify Down Syndrome and

View More Related Solutions