Heredity & Karyotypes

Pedigrees

Visual representations of genetic relationships within a family, used to track the inheritance of traits or diseases across generations.

Autosomal Dominant

Inheritance pattern where affected males and females are equally represented in a pedigree. There is not an overwhelming ratio.

Autosomal Recessive

Inheritance pattern where a trait is shown by the offspring, and not the parent( the parents are carriers!)

Sex-linked

Inheritance pattern where males are more likely to be affected due to having only one X chromosome.

Karyotypes

The visible number and appearance of chromosomes in a eukaryotic cell, used to detect abnormalities like aneuploidy.

Chromosomal Disorder

Disorders caused by problems in the ordering of chromosomes, such as Trisomy-13.

Nondisjunction

Failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division.

Oogenesis

The process of developing an ovum (egg), resulting in one large ovum and three small polar bodies as the final product.