Cariótipo

Cariótipo refers to the complete set of chromosomes in a cell or organism. Chromosomes are thread-like structures found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carry genetic information in the form of DNA. A karyotype displays the number and appearance of these chromosomes, including their size, banding patterns, and centromere position. Humans typically have 23 pairs of chromosomes, totaling 46. Twenty-two of these are autosomes, and one pair consists of sex chromosomes (XX for females and XY for males).

The process of analyzing a karyotype is called karyotyping. It involves obtaining cells, culturing them to encourage cell division, arresting them at a specific stage of division when chromosomes are most condensed and visible, and then staining them to reveal characteristic banding patterns. These chromosomes are then arranged in homologous pairs according to size and shape, creating a karyogram. Karyotyping is a valuable diagnostic tool in genetics and medicine. It can identify chromosomal abnormalities, such as aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes, like in Down syndrome, where there are three copies of chromosome 21) and structural rearrangements (like translocations or deletions). Such abnormalities can be associated with various genetic disorders, developmental delays, and certain types of cancer. Analyzing a karyotype helps in understanding genetic health, diagnosing conditions, and sometimes in predicting prognosis or guiding treatment.