How does extra chromosome help?

[kobegasolrule]

I have a biology test tommorrow and I need to write an essay about why extra chromosome is beneficial to living things?Also why is it bad???

[JordanA8934]

an extra chromosome can lead to disabilities in the baby Most chromosome abnormalities are so harmful that the embryo or fetus does not survive long enough to be born. Many many pregnancies end in miscarriage, and many of these are caused by chromosome abnormalities - either numerical differences (too many or too few) or structural differences (damaged chromosomes with missing or extra pieces, or pieces in the wrong order). Some of these miscarriages are so early that the woman may not even realize she has been pregnant. a.. The perfect number of chromosomes for humans is 46. We have 46 chromosomes in almost all of our cells - that is, 22 pairs of autosomes, numbered 1 through 22, plus the two sex chromosomes, called X and Y. Normally, females contain two X chromosomes in their cells in addition to the 44 autosomes. We describe female chromosomes as 46,XX (46 including 2 X' s). The cells of a male contain an X chromosome and a Y chromosome plus 44 autosomes; we describe their chromosomes as 46,XY.Can a person survive with too many or too few chromosomes? Since the chromosomes contain genes that are needed for our growth and development, it makes sense that we cannot grow and develop successfully if any chromosomes are missing.Only in the case of the X chromosome is it possible for a person to survive with a missing chromosome, even though the X chromosome is a fairly large chromosome. Considering that a normal, healthy male can manage with only one X chromosome (and a Y, of course), it is not surprising that a woman with only one X chromosome may be able to survive at all.A person with only one sex chromosome, an X, will be a female with Turner syndrome, perhaps the mildest of all the chromosome abnormalities. We describe her chromosomes as 45,X (meaning that each cell contains 45 chromosomes, including one X chromosome). Even with Turner syndrome, most pregnancies will not continue to term but will end in a miscarriage - only some will survive. The symptoms of Turner syndrome are quite significant for those who have to live with them.A person with only one Y chromsome (45,Y) could not survive or be born alive. The X chromsome ahs important genes on it that would be completely missing in such a person.As to why it is harmful to have an extra chromosome, this is harder to understand. If chromosomes are good, wouldn't additional chromosomes be even better? The answer is no, they would not. The genes on the chromosomes are needed in exactly the correct amount in order to work correctly. (As with medicine, you need the right dose!)Many genes cause the cell to make proteins of various kinds, and these are needed in the correct amounts. Some genes function by instructing other genes to turn on and off at the right moment, and these instructions need to be precise, accurate and sensitive. Having an extra chromosome is like having a business with too many managers or a family with too many parents or a car with two drivers or a country with two presidents, perhaps giving contradictory instructions.The smallest of all the chromosomes is chromosome 21. A person who has, not two but three copies of chromosome 21 has Down syndrome, a well-known form of mental retardation.Are people ever found with other extra chromosomes besides chromosome 21? Hardly ever. Those babies who are born with extra copies of larger chromosomes may not survive for long; they have many different health problems and birth defects.Once again, the exception is the sex chromosomes. It is possible for males to survive with two Y chromosomes (47, XYY instead of 46, XY). It is also possible to survive with an extra X chromosome - 47, XXX females (triple-X syndrome) and 47, XXY males (Klinefelter syndrome).By doing research into chromosome differences and the symptoms they cause, we learn about how the genes and chromosomes function most of the time. A syndrome is a set of recognizable symptoms that tend to occur together. New research into the many genes on chromosome 21 is helping scientists to understand which symptoms of Down syndrome are caused by which extra genes. This type of research is also helped by studying people who having extra or missing pieces of chromosomes, as opposed to a whole chromosome being extra or missing. These patients help scientists to narrow down which genes on the chromosomes are responsible for which function in our bodies. It is fascinating!Sarina Kopinsky, MSc, H.Dip.Ed.

[hope_lingers]

people with extra chromosome are call down's syndromego to wikipedia to find about down's syndromehumans have 46 chromosome 23 comes from mum 23 comes from dad.If unlucky like 1/1000. Mum or dad give extra chromosome so you end up with 47 chromosome which is call down syndromeNo you do not benefit from extra chromosomebecause it unbalance the genetic DNA system.

[DrDemento]

It can be detrimental - and usually is. Down's Syndrome is actually an example of this. It's called trisomy-21. It means you have 3 sets of the 21st pair of chromosomes and causes all the familiar mutations and symptoms of Down's Syndrome. Kleinfelters and other such diseases are caused by having three sets of chromosomes. Wikipedia them for more information.However, in the development of life, extra chromosomes were beneficial because it allowed life to be more complex and develop specialized systems to create a highly efficient body with all parts working in conjunction with each other. It also allows for even greater genetic variation, which enables us to fight off diseases and predators more effectively and to adapt to our environments.

[scottsdalehigh644693]

Extra chromosomes are not very helpful to organisms that have multiple chromosomes.Extra chromosomes for humans usually result in aborted fetuses. Down syndrome in humans results from three copies of chromosome 21, one of the smallest chromosomes. Extra copies of larger chromosomes do not lead to viable offspring.