Genetic deletion
From Free net encyclopedia
A genetic deletion is a genetic aberration in which part of a chromosome is missing. This causes several serious genetic diseases.
One example of genetic deletions is Cri du chat. Also known as "cry of the cat" syndrome. It is found in approx. 1 in 50,000 live births. The surving infants have a distinctive cry, severe mental retardation, and shortened life span.
Deletion is the loss of genetic material. Causes:
- losses from translocation
- crossovers within an inversion
- unequal crossing over
- Breaking without rejoining
Small deletions are less likely to be fatal; large deletions are usually fatal - but always, there is variation based on what genes are lost. Some medium-sized deletions lead to recognizable human disorders.Template:Genetics-stub