what is a karyotype

11 months ago 38
Nature

A karyotype is the complete set of chromosomes in an individual's cells, including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. It is a laboratory-produced image of a person's chromosomes isolated from a cell. Karyotyping is the process of examining the karyotype to determine the chromosome count, any abnormalities, and the arrangement of the chromosomes. This technique is used to look for unusual changes in chromosomes and can help identify genetic problems as the cause of a disorder or disease

. Karyotypes can be used for various purposes, such as studying chromosomal aberrations, taxonomic relationships, and genetic disorders. They are also used in prenatal diagnostics, tumor studies, and to understand past evolutionary events