Barr Body: Difference between revisions
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A '''Barr Body '''is an inactivated. condensed X [[Chromosome|chromosome]] found in female cells. | A '''Barr Body '''is an inactivated. condensed X [[Chromosome|chromosome]] found in female cells. | ||
Since X chromosomes are larger than [[ | Since X chromosomes are larger than [[Y chromosome|Y chromosomes]], they could potentially hold more genetic information. To ensure that X-linked gene product doses are kept similar between males and females, one of the [[X chromosome|X chromosomes]] in a female is crammed into a small space which condenses (the Barr Body). This results in the genetic information on the chromosome being inaccessible to proteins that cause gene transcription. This is called ''[[Dosage_Compensation_Mechanism|dosage compensation]]''. | ||
Inactivation of the X chromosome is random and occurs at an early point of development. | Inactivation of the X chromosome is random and occurs at an early point of development. | ||
The number of Barr bodies in a cell is one less than the number of X chromosomes. | The number of Barr bodies in a cell is one less than the number of X chromosomes. For example: | ||
*In a normal female with the [[genotype|genotype]] 46XX , the number of Barr bodies would be 1. | |||
*In a normal male with the genotype 46XY, the number of Barr bodies would be 0. | |||
However in a male with [[Klinefelter syndrome|Klinefelter's syndrome and]] the genotype 47XXY, the number of Barr bodies would also be 1<ref>Page 262, Hartl D.L and Ruvolo M (2012) Genetics, Analysis of Genes and Genomes, 8th edition, USA: Jones and Bartlett</ref>.<br> | |||
=== Reference === | |||
Reference | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 12:49, 29 November 2011
A Barr Body is an inactivated. condensed X chromosome found in female cells.
Since X chromosomes are larger than Y chromosomes, they could potentially hold more genetic information. To ensure that X-linked gene product doses are kept similar between males and females, one of the X chromosomes in a female is crammed into a small space which condenses (the Barr Body). This results in the genetic information on the chromosome being inaccessible to proteins that cause gene transcription. This is called dosage compensation.
Inactivation of the X chromosome is random and occurs at an early point of development.
The number of Barr bodies in a cell is one less than the number of X chromosomes. For example:
- In a normal female with the genotype 46XX , the number of Barr bodies would be 1.
- In a normal male with the genotype 46XY, the number of Barr bodies would be 0.
However in a male with Klinefelter's syndrome and the genotype 47XXY, the number of Barr bodies would also be 1[1].
Reference
- ↑ Page 262, Hartl D.L and Ruvolo M (2012) Genetics, Analysis of Genes and Genomes, 8th edition, USA: Jones and Bartlett