What term means the complete chromosomal complement of an individual, usually based on a photograph of the chromosomes visualized under the microscope?

What term means the complete chromosomal complement of an individual, usually based on a photograph of the chromosomes visualized under the microscope?

• A. Autosomes
• B. Sex chromosomes
• C. Karyotype
• D. Zygote

Answer: (C)

The term being tested is karyotype. A karyotype is the complete chromosomal complement of an individual, typically observed by staining and photographing chromosomes from a cell in metaphase and then arranging them in a standard order. This visual arrangement shows the number, size, and shape of all chromosomes, including both autosomes and sex chromosomes; in humans that amounts to 46 chromosomes organized into 23 pairs. The other terms refer to parts or concepts not describing the full chromosomal set: autosomes are the non-sex chromosomes, sex chromosomes are the X and Y, and a zygote is the fertilized egg. Therefore, the complete chromosomal complement based on a chromosome photograph is a karyotype.

The term being tested is karyotype. A karyotype is the complete chromosomal complement of an individual, typically observed by staining and photographing chromosomes from a cell in metaphase and then arranging them in a standard order. This visual arrangement shows the number, size, and shape of all chromosomes, including both autosomes and sex chromosomes; in humans that amounts to 46 chromosomes organized into 23 pairs. The other terms refer to parts or concepts not describing the full chromosomal set: autosomes are the non-sex chromosomes, sex chromosomes are the X and Y, and a zygote is the fertilized egg. Therefore, the complete chromosomal complement based on a chromosome photograph is a karyotype.