Genetics, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Biology Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering genetics, cytogenetics, stages of cell division, chromosomal abnormalities, familial hypercholesterolemia, and molecular biology laboratory tools.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that creates $2$ genetically identical diploid daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces $4$ haploid daughter cells.

Nondisjunction

An event occurring when chromosomes fail to separate properly during cell division, resulting in cells with too many or too few chromosomes.

Gametes

Human sex cells (sperm/egg) that typically contain $23$ chromosomes (one set).

Human Body Cells

Somatic cells in humans that contain $46$ chromosomes.

Karyotype

An organized picture of all the chromosomes in a cell, arranged in pairs from largest to smallest.

Chromosome Spread

A picture of chromosomes separated and spread out so they can be examined individually.

Cytogeneticist

A scientist who studies chromosomes and identifies chromosome abnormalities.

Prophase

The stage of cell division in which chromosomes condense and become visible, and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

Metaphase

The stage of cell division in which chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.

Anaphase

The stage of cell division in which sister chromatids separate and move to opposite sides of the cell.

Telophase

The stage of cell division in which new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, and the cell begins dividing.

Trisomy

A condition characterized by having an extra chromosome ($3$ copies instead of $2$).

Monosomy

A condition characterized by missing one chromosome ($1$ copy instead of $2$).

Structural Changes

Changes in the structure of a chromosome caused by broken or rearranged chromosome pieces.

Deletion

A chromosomal abnormality where a piece of a chromosome is missing or removed.

Duplication

A chromosomal abnormality where a section of a chromosome is copied more than once.

Inversion

A chromosomal abnormality where a chromosome segment breaks off, flips around, and reattaches backward.

Translocation

A chromosomal abnormality where a piece of one chromosome attaches to a different chromosome.

Insertion

A chromosomal abnormality where an extra piece of DNA is added into a chromosome.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)

An inherited genetic disorder that causes very high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A laboratory technique used to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment.

Restriction Enzymes

Proteins that act like molecular scissors by cutting DNA at specific sequences.

RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)

A technique that identifies differences in DNA by comparing the lengths of DNA fragments after they are cut with restriction enzymes.