Question

When looking at a karyotype, for example to diagnose trisomy 21 in a fetus, is it possible to use that analysis also to tell if the fetus has inherited a cystic fibrosis allele from a carrier mother?

Answer 1

1) When looking at a karyotype, for example to diagnose trisomy 21 in a fetus, is it possible to use that analysis also to tell if the fetus has inherited a cystic fibrosis allele from a carrier mother?

The correct answer is

Genotypes cannot be deducted from karyotype analysis, as karyotype analysis is only used to determine the number of chromosomes present in a fetus and therefore cannot be used for determining the inheritance of cystic fibrosis allele from mother.

Chromosome analysis or karyotyping is a test that evaluates the number and structure of a person's chromosomes in order to detect abnormalities, whereas cystic fibrosis is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is caused by the presence of mutations in both copies of the gene for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein so karyotype analysis is not a useful diagnostic tool for cystic fibrosis

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