Statistical analysis of chromosome characteristics

摘要

The advent of new stains for chromosomes has increased the possibility of implementing useful automated chromosome analysis. The case with which chromosomes can now be recognized makes it possible to perform detailed statistical analysis of the chromosomes of an individual. This paper describes methods for assembling chromosome information from several cells in such a way that accidental variations due to preparation, etc. can be eliminated and an undistorted set of characteristics of the chromosome complement can be established. This set of characteristics can then be compared with various references, and statements can be made concerning the relationships between variations in the chromosome complement and genetic traits. These same methods can be employed in multiple-cell karyotyping to circumvent the classical problem of touching and overlapping chromosomes. The methods also allow one to achieve very reliable descriptions of the chromosome complement. The importance of appropriate descriptors of the chromosomes is illustrated.