Rabab Salama
Clinical and Chemical Pathology Consultant
HCQM Specialist
Karyotyping
What Are Chromosomes?
Chromosomes are the cellular
structures
that carry genes
OR
Chromosomes are distinct dense bodies found
in the nucleus of cells , composed of protein
and DNA.
The DNA in an individual chromosome is
one, long moleculewhich is highly
coiledand condensed.
Genetic informationis contained in the
DNA of chromosomes in the form of
linear sequences of bases(A:adenine,T:
thymine,C:cytosine,G:guanine).
What Are Chromosomes ?
DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid)
&RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
In DNA the sugar is deoxyribose and the bases are
Adenine (A), Cytocine(C), Guanine (G) and Thymine
(T).
Nucleotides are linked to one another by
phosphodiester bonds to form DNA polymer or
polynucleotide.
DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid)
&RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
DNA is a double stranded, two polynucleotide being
wound around one another to form double helix.
The double helix is held together by hydrogen bonds
between the base components of the nucleotide s of
the two strands.
The base pairing rules that:
1.A base-pairs with T.
2.G base-pairs with C
DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid)
&RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid)
&RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
So the two DNA molecules in the double
helix have complementary sequences.
In the RNA the sugar is ribose and the
thymine base is replaced by the uracil
(U).
RNA is usually single stranded.
The total number
of bases
In all the chromosomes of a
human cell is approximately six
billion
In an individual chromosome
range from 50 to 250 million
base.
What Are Chromosomes? (Cont)
Gene:
The DNA sequence for a
single trait.
What Are Chromosomes? (Cont)
Gene:
Each chromosome contains a few
thousand genes.
The estimate for the number of genes in
humans are thought to be between
30,000 and 40,000 genes.
What Are Chromosomes? (Cont)
Gene:
Genes can be as shortas 1000 base pairs or
as longas several hundred thousand base
pairs. It can even be carried by more than one
chromosome
The smallest band detected by light
microscope is about 5-10 million base pair and
could harbor 10-50 genes.
What Are Chromosomes? (Cont)
From Gene to Protein
From Gene to Protein
46
Chromosomes
22 autosomal
pairs
2 sex
chromosomes
Normal Karyotype
46,XY46,XX
F
M
General Guidelines:
Modal number, sex chrom, abnabbrev (first
chrom; second chrom) (arm band number; arm
band number)
Ex:
46,XX,t(1;2)(p32;q22)
Modal number: total count of number of
chromosomes in each cell of a given cell line
How to Visualize
Chromosomes ?
Cytogenetic Techniques
Conventional (standard) banding techniques (G
banding most commonly used).
Chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be
resolved by G banding may be discovered by:
Molecular cytogenetic techniques (Fluorescence
in Situ Hybridization FISH).
Cytogenetic Nomenclature
Each chromosome is visualized
as twochromatids that are
joined at a central
constriction called the
centromere.
The centromere divides the
chromosomes into two arms: a
short arm (P) and a long
arm (q)
Telomere
Position of Centromere
Identifying Features of a
Chromosome
Size(large, medium, small)
Position ofcentromere
metacentric acrocentric
submetacentric
Banding pattern
Banding Techniques
Chromosomes appear as a
continuous series of light
and darkareas, called
bandsdepending on their
nucleotide and protein
composition.
Each chromosome (1,2,3...22,
X and Y) displays a unique
banding pattern, analogous to
a "bar code", which allows it
to be reliably differentiated
from other chromosomes of
the same size and centromeric
position.
Banding Techniques
Chromosome Band
Part of a chromosome
that is distinguished
from adjacent parts by
appearing darker or
lighter with one or more
banding techniques.
Each chromosome has landmarks
which is used to designate
morophologicfeatures
important to identify the
chromosomes:
Centromere
Telomere
Prominent bands
Telomere
Telomere
Centromere
Chromosome Region
Area lyingbetween
adjacent landmarks.
Ranges 1-4.
Numbered sequentially
from centromere to
telomere.
Regions are divided into
bands, numbered
sequentially from
centromere to telomere
(1q31).(21q22).(19p13)
In high resolution banding,
bands are divided into sub-
bands.(1q31.1).
Chromosome Region
A Karyotype
Arrangement of chromosomes from a
particular cell, the largest chromosomes
are first and the smallest ones are last.
It is a description of the number and
structure of the chromosomes.
Chromosomes are divided into 7 groups,
A………G
Group A:1,2,3
Group B:4,5
Group C: 6-12, x
Group D:13,14,15
Group E:16,17,18
Group F:19,20
Group G:21,22,Y
Chromosomal Abnormalities
Numerical:A karyotypewith
abnormal No. of chromosomes.
Structural:Alterations in the
structure of chromosomes.
Hyperdiploid:more than 46 chromosomes.
Low Hyperdiploidy(47-50) Childhood ALL
High Hyperdiploidy(51-60) Childhood ALL
Near Tetraploidy
Near Triploidy
Numerical Abnormalities
•Trisomy: gain of one copy (47,xy,+8)
The obvious molecular consequence of a trisomy is
the presence of an additional copy of all of the
genetic material on a chromosome.
•Tetrasomy: gain of two copies
Numerical Abnormalities
Hypodiploid:Less than 46
chromosomes.
•Monosomy: loss of one copy (45,xy,-7).
•Nullisomy: loss of both copies.
Numerical Abnormalities
High Hyperdiploidy
(55,xy,+3,+7+7+14+14+17+20+21+21)
Deletion (del) = loss of chromosomes
segments.
Interstitial
Terminal
Structural Abnormalities
46,xy,del (5)(q31)
46,xy,del(7)(q22;q32)
Translocation
Translocation(t): relocation of material
from one chromosome to a different
chromosome.
Reciprocal: exchange of material
between different chromosomes.
t(9;22)(q34;q11)
Non-reciprocal: rare
Reciprocal Translocation
Translocation
46,xx,t(9;22)(q34;q11)
46,xy,t(8;21)(q22;q22)
Translocations: chchfeatures of hematologic
malignancies two mechanisms
1-Generation of fusion protein
PML-RARA in t(15;17) in M3
(inhibit apoptosis, differentiation block)
BCR-ABL in t(9;22) in CML
(Increased proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, increase
cell adhesive abnormalities)
Inversion
Inversion(inv): it is 180
o
rotation of a
chromosome segment
Pericentric
Paracentric
Inversion
46,xy,inv(16)(p13;q22)
Isochromosome
Isochromosome(i):Two identical chromosome
arms positioned as mirror images of each other
[i(17q)]
Isochromosomeformation leads to both loss and
gain of genetic material
i(17q) consists of two chromosome 17 long arms,
without short arms. Cells with i(17q) generally also
have one normal chromosome 17; thus, they have one
copy of 17p and three copies of 17q.
Isochromosome
Diploid cell:A cell with a normal
complement of structurally normal
chromosomes.
Pseudodiploid cell:A cell with 46
chromosomes but with numerical
chromosomal abnormality (e.g. loss of
one chromosome & gain of another) or
structural abnormality.
Aneuploidcell:Cell with abnormal
number of chromosomes.