How Can Karyotype Analysis Explain Genetic Disorders?
Introduction:
A karyotype is a picture of an organism's genetic make-up in which the
chromosomes of a cell have been stained so that the banding pattern of the
chromosomes appear. Cells in Metaphase are stained to show distinct parts
of the chromosomes. The cells are then photographed through a microscope
and enlarged. The chromosomes are cut from the photograph and arranged
according to size, shape, centromere position, and banding patterns.
Karyotypes have become of increasing importance to genetic counselors as
disorders and diseases have been traced to specific visible abnormalities of the
chromosome.
Objectives:
1. Construct a karyotype form the metaphase chromosomes
of a fictitious organism
2. Analyze prepared karyotypes for chromosome
abnormalities
3. Identify the genetic disorders of six fictitious
cows by using the cows' karyotypes
4. Hypothesize how karyotypes analysis can be used to
explain the presence of a genetic disorder
Materials:
print-outs of the the metaphase chromosomes from six cows (2
pages)
scissors
glue
This activity is based on a lab from Biology: Dynamics of Life Laboratory Manual, Glencoe, 1995.