September 30, 2017Health Library
A standard arrangement of the chromosome complement prepared for chromosome analysis. A normal female karyotype would include each of the 22 pairs of autosomes (nonsex chromosomes), arranged in numeric order, together with the two X chromosomes.
Karyotyping, that is, the preparation, analysis, and interpretation of a karyotype can be used to detect a variety of genetic disorders. Babies can also be karyotype-tested before they are born to diagnose genetic abnormalities that indicate serious birth defects, such as Down Syndrome.