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Nondisjunction Definition

Nondisjunction occurs in cell division when chromosomes do not divide


properly. Chromosomes contain all of a cells DNA, which it needs in order
to function and reproduce. Normally, when a cell divides, the chromosomes
line up in an orderly way and then separate from each other before cell
division. When these chromosomes fail to separate properly,
nondisjunction has occurred. The resulting daughter cells have an incorrect
number of chromosomes; one may have too many, while another may have
too few. This causes problems in cell function because a cell cannot
function normally without the right amount of chromosomes.
Types of Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction can occur during mitosis, meiosis I, or meiosis II.

During Mitosis

Somatic cells, or cells of the body, divide through mitosis. From each
original parent cell, two identical daughter cells are created. In the parent
cell, each chromosome is composed of two identical sister chromatids.
During the anaphase stage, these chromatids normally separate, and one
chromatid goes into each daughter cell. However, when nondisjunction
occurs, the chromatids do not separate. The result is that one cell receives
both chromatids, while the other cell receives neither. Each daughter cell
then has an abnormal number of chromosomes when mitosis is complete;
one cell has an extra chromosome, while the other is missing one.
The diagram below shows nondisjunction taking place in mitosis:

Mitotic nondisjunction
During Meiosis I

Gametes (eggs and sperm) are made through meiosis. One cell divides
into four daughter cells through the combined processes of meiosis I and
meiosis II. Meiosis I is similar to mitosis, but in meiosis I each pair of
chromosomes lines up next to each other in preparation for making
gametes, whereas in mitosis, the chromosomes are all in one line. In
anaphase of meiosis I, nondisjunction happens when a pair of homologous
chromosomes does not separate. In the resulting cells, one cell has two
copies of a chromosome, while the other cell has no copies. When each of
these cells goes on to divide into two cells during meiosis II, the four total
cells produced will all have chromosomal abnormalities.
During Meiosis II

Even if a cell divides normally in meiosis I, nondisjunction can still occur in


meiosis II. During meiosis II, each cell splits and goes from diploid (two
pairs of each chromosome) to haploid (one of each chromosome) in
preparation for fertilization. If a pair of sister chromatids fail to separate
properly during anaphase of meiosis II, one daughter cell will have an extra
chromosome and one daughter cell will be missing a chromosome. If the
other daughter cell created in meiosis I splits properly, the other two of the
four total daughter cells created during meiosis II will have the normal
number of chromosomes.
Examples of Nondisjunction Disorders

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome occurs as a result of nondisjunction during meiosis I that


produces an egg cell with an extra copy of chromosome 21. The fertilized
egg has three copies of chromosome 21two from the mother, and one
from the fatherwhich is called a trisomy. People with Down syndrome
have three copies of chromosome 21 in all of their somatic cells.

The extra chromosome in the cells of those with Down syndrome is


responsible for a host of characteristics, including delays in physical
growth, certain facial features, and mild intellectual disability. Rates of
nondisjunction increase with age, which is why older mothers have a higher
chance of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. According to Mayo
Clinic, this chance drastically increases between the ages of 35 and 45,
going from 1 in 350 at 35 years to 1 in 30 at 45 years.

Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy

Sex chromosome aneuploidy is the term for an abnormal number of sex


chromosomes. Normally, females have two X chromosomes, while males
have one X and one Y. Nondisjunction can cause individuals to be born
female with one X (Turner syndrome), female with three X chromosomes
(Trisomy X), male with XXY (Klinefelter syndrome), or male with XYY (XYY
syndrome). Rarer combinations, such as having five X chromosomes, can
also occur. Sometimes, sex chromosome aneuploidy goes unnoticed in
individuals, but other times it may present as a recognizable syndrome with
characteristics such as intellectual disability.
Other Types of Trisomy

Most cases of trisomy result in miscarriage during the first trimester of


pregnancy because the fetus cannot survive the chromosomal abnormality.
Trisomy 16 occurs in over 1% of pregnancies and is the most common
trisomy, but most individuals with this trisomy do not survive unless some
of their cells are normal.

The three most common types of trisomy that are survivable are Trisomy
21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and Trisomy 13
(Patau syndrome).

Related Biology Terms


Mitosis the process by which somatic cells divide into two identical daughter cells.
Meiosis the process by which four gamete (sex) cells are produced from one parent
cell; it consists of meiosis I and meiosis II.
Anaphase the stage of mitosis and meiosis where chromosomes separate from one
another before cell division.
Trisomy a cell has three copies of a chromosome instead of two.

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