Chromosomal Inheritance

AP Biology· difficulty 1/5

Karyotype excerpt: chromosome 21 21 21 21 21 21 Three copies of chromosome 21

Which condition is most consistent with this karyotype finding, and what is the underlying mechanism?

  • A

    Klinefelter syndrome, caused by an extra X chromosome in males.

  • B

    Down syndrome (trisomy 21), most often caused by nondisjunction during meiosis I in the mother.

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  • C

    Cri-du-chat, caused by chromosome 5 deletion.

  • D

    Turner syndrome, caused by a missing X chromosome.

Explanation

A third copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21) causes Down syndrome and most commonly results from maternal meiosis I nondisjunction.

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