Robertsonian translocations are named after the American insect geneticist W. R.

Question

Robertsonian translocations are named after the American insect geneticist W. R. Robertson who first described these translocations in grasshoppers in 1916. In human, these translocations usually occur with chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22. Other animals can experience these unusual translocations as well. Horses have a normal, diploid chromosome number of 64. 1. If a horse had a Robertsonian translocation involving two of its chromosomes, how many chromosomes would the individual horse have in a typical somatic cell containing this anomaly? a. Robertsonian translocations are limited to a certain type of chromosome. What type or category of chromosome are usually involved in Robertsonian translocations? b.

Explanation / Answer

a)

Robertsonian translocation is a specific type of chromosomal rearrangement in which centric fusion between two acrocentric chromosome takes place leading to the formation of one large metacentric chromosome and one small fragment which mostly consist of hetrochromatin and is regularly eliminated. Although robertsonian translocation reduces the number of chromosomes by one, but not accociated with gain or loss of genetic material.

Horse has diploid chromosome number of 63 in a typical somatic cell containing this anamoly.

b) Acrocentric chromosomes ( a chromosome in which centromere is located near one end of chromosome) are usually involved in robertsonian translocation.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse R
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.