karyotype

American  

[kar-ee-uh-tahyp] / ˈkær i əˌtaɪp /

noun

Genetics.

1. the chromosomes of a cell, usually displayed as a systematized arrangement of chromosome pairs in descending order of size.

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karyotype British  

/ ˈkærɪəˌtaɪp, ˌkærɪəˈtɪpɪk /

noun

1. the appearance of the chromosomes in a somatic cell of an individual or species, with reference to their number, size, shape, etc

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verb

1. to determine the karyotype of (a cell)

karyotype Scientific  

/ kăr′ē-ə-tīp′ /

1. An organized visual profile of the chromosomes in the nucleus of a body cell of an organism. Karyotypes are prepared using cells in the metaphase stage of cell division, when chromosomal strands have coiled together and duplicated, rendering them easily visible under a microscope after staining. Photomicrographs of the stained chromosomes are then arranged in a standard format according to size, the relative position of the centromere, and other criteria. The normal human karyotype consists of 46 chromosomes.

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1. To prepare the karyotype of an organism.

karyotype Cultural  

1. The complete set of chromosomes that constitutes the entire genome of a species. The human karyotype contains forty-six chromosomes, twenty-three from each parent. This set is contained in the nucleus of almost every cell in the body

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Other Word Forms

• karyotypic
  adjective
• karyotypical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of karyotype

First recorded in 1925–30; karyo- + type

Example Sentences

Finally, the karyotype can pinpoint translocations, which occur when a segment of genetic material breaks from one chromosome and reattaches to another chromosome or to a different part of the same chromosome.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Figure 13.5 This karyotype is of a female human.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

There have been documented cases of patients born with genetically male 46 XY karyotype who have gotten pregnant and gave birth.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2019

The type of chromosome gains and losses are indicated. b, Representative karyotype analysis by whole-genome sequencing of human blastocysts.

From Nature • Sep. 19, 2017

He had received the results of the endocrinological tests performed at Henry Ford Hospital, and so knew of my XY karyotype, my high plasma testosterone levels, and the absence in my blood of dihydrotestosterone.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides