In: Biology
1. For each of the chromosomal rearrangements listed below, (1) indicate if the rearrangement is balanced or unbalanced (2) draw a diagram to show how the chromosome(s) with the rearrangement would synapse with the normal chromosome(s) during meiosis (be sure to indicate the position of the centromere for c and d)
a. deletion
b. duplication
c. pericentric inversion
d. paracentric inversion
e. reciprocal translocation
Balanced rearrangements change the chromosomal gene order but do not remove or duplicate any of the DNA of the chromosomes. Imbalanced rearrangements change the gene expression of a part of the affected chromosomes.
a) Deletion leads to unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements.
A deletion is loss of a chromosome segment. There are two kinds of deletions: terminal, at the end of a chromosome; and interstitial, along a chromosome arm. Deletions occur if a chromosome breaks and part of it is removed.
b) Duplication leads to unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements.
Duplication arise by unequal crossing over or abnormal segregation. Duplication causes chromosomal abnormalities, results in addition of an extra gene copy i.e., trisomy, leading to over-expression.
Inversions are balanced rearrangements, they do not change the overall amount of the genetic material, so they are generally viable and show no particular abnormalities at the phenotypic level
c) Pericentric inversions are balanced chromosomal rearrangement
This involves inversion around the centromere
d) Paracentric inversions are balanced chromosomal rearrangement
Paracentric inversions do not include the centromere and both breaks occur in one arm of the chromosome
e) Reciprocal translocation are balanced chromosomal rearrangement
Translocation are generally balanced if the transfer of genetic information between the chromosomes is reciprocal and no genetic material is lost or gained.