Karyotyping
Karyotyping
Karyotyping is a fascinating and intricate process in the field of genetics. It involves the examination of an individual‘s chromosomes, allowing scientists and medical professionals to observe the complete set of chromosomes in the cells of a species or an individual organism. This includes their number, size, shape, and any potential abnormalities.
The term "karyotype" itself refers to the full chromosome set visualized under a microscope during the metaphase of cell division. Karyotyping is particularly useful for identifying genetic disorders, understanding human development, and even unraveling evolutionary relationships among species.
To create a karyotype, cells are first collected and treated with a special solution that encourages them to divide. At the metaphase stage of cell division, when chromosomes are most visible, the cells are stained and photographed. The resulting images are then carefully analyzed.
Each species has a characteristic karyotype, including the number of chromosomes. Humans, for instance, typically have 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. Any deviation from this number can indicate the presence of genetic conditions. For example, the presence of an extra chromosome 21 results in Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21.
