Karyotype and inheritance notes
Thu, Oct 29, 2026 · Week 10 · Principles of Biomedical Technology (Principles of Biomedical Science)
Today's goal: Students take structured notes on chromosomal structure, karyotyping, and patterns of inheritance, then complete the PLTW online task.
What a finished product looks like
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Notebook notes:
- Humans have 46 chromosomes: 22 pairs of autosomes plus 1 pair of sex chromosomes (XX female, XY male).
- A karyotype is made by staining chromosomes in metaphase, photographing them, then arranging them by size and centromere position into numbered pairs.
- Aneuploidy is an abnormal chromosome number. Trisomy 21 (three copies of chromosome 21) causes Down syndrome and comes from nondisjunction during meiosis.
- Inheritance terms: a dominant allele shows even in one copy; a recessive allele shows only with two copies; a carrier has one recessive allele but is unaffected.
Labeled diagram note: I drew 22 autosome pairs, labeled the XY pair, and circled chromosome 21 showing three copies for a trisomy example.
Also due today: Keep notes in the science notebook; bring them for the karyotype lab.
WebXam problem for today's skill
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.