Question

karyotypes can be studied to determine an organism’s chromosomal makeup and to detect genetic defects. patau syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 13, giving them three copies. symptoms of patau syndrome include extra digits, seizures, and cleft palate. which word would geneticists use to describe the cause of patau syndrome?
○ diploidy
○ homologous
○ heterozygous
○ trisomy

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each term:

• Diploidy: Having two sets of chromosomes (normal for most cells), not related to an extra chromosome.
• Homologous: Refers to similar chromosomes (e.g., maternal and paternal), not about extra copies.
• Heterozygous: Having different alleles for a gene, not about chromosome number.
• Trisomy: Having three copies of a chromosome (instead of two). Patau syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 13 (three copies), so trisomy describes this.

Answer:

D. trisomy