Name____________________________
Karyotyping Activity
In this activity, you will use a computer model to look at chromosomes and prepare a karyotype.
You will diagnose patients for abnormalities and learn the correct notation for characterizing
karyotypes. Type your answers in this worksheet and print it when you are finished.
Site 1: The Biology Project at www.biology.arizona.edu
Click on the link that says "Karyotyping" to move to the activity.
Follow the instructions at the site. As you proceed through the lesson, answer the following questions.
Introduction:
1. What causes a dark band on the chromosome?
2. What is a centromere?
Patient Histories:
Complete the karyotype for the patients by matching the chromosome with its homologous pair.
Hint: Use the sizes and banding pattern of the chromosome to help you make the match. (Your choices are
highlighted in blue)
You will not be able to proceed until you have correctly matched all the chromosomes.
Patient A
3. (A.1) What notation would you use to characterize Patient A's karyotype?
4. (A.2) What diagnosis would you give for Patient A?
5. What about patient A’s history would give you a clue that the extra chromosome was the 21st
chromosome?
Patient B
6. (B.1) What notation would you use to characterize Patient B's karyotype?
7. (B.2) What diagnosis would you give for Patient B
8. What about patient B’s history would give you a clue that the extra chromosome was a sex
chromosome?
Patient C
9. (C.1) What notation would you use to characterize Patient C's karyotype?
10. (C.2) What diagnosis would you give for Patient C
11. Are the symptoms from patient C consistent for people with this diagnosis?
Site 2: http://bluehawk.monmouth.edu/~bio/karyotypes.htm
12. Pick the normal male or the normal female and arrange the chromosomes best you can. When finished
print the finished karyotype and staple to this worksheet. You only need to print one karyotype for your
group. (Work with a partner, this is hard!)
13. For extra credit you may complete one of the unknowns and type your name on it in the blank provided.
Determine the sex of the patient and diagnose the patient. Print this karyotype and turn it in with the
worksheet and karyotype above. (I will make this worth your time!)