2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

1409
If you are missing some chromosomes, what would happen?
     Anne Madeo, M.S.: I earned my MS in Human Genetics at the University of Michigan and has been working at the NIH as a Genetic Counselor since 2000.  I'm currently the Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins University/NHGRI Genetic Counseling Training Program. The only chromosomes that you can 'miss' and not cause a problem are the sex chromosomes (the X or the Y chromosome). Women have two X chromosomes, so clearly a Y chromosome is not necessary for life. Individuals can be born with only one X chromosome and not a second sex chromosome. These individuals have Turner syndrome and are essentially healthy although they are usually infertile. The result of missing an entire autosome is usually a fetal demise.
Charter School of Educational Excellence in NY (5th grade teacher)

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