Virtual Lab University Of Arizona Karyotyping Activity -
The location of the "waist" where two sister chromatids are joined.
If you’re an instructor, assign the “Patient History First” version of the activity. It forces students to predict the karyotype before sorting—exactly how genetic counselors work. If you’re a student, do all 5 case studies in one sitting. Muscle memory for banding patterns takes only 45 minutes online… but weeks in a crowded lab.
Inside the Lab: The University of Arizona Virtual Karyotyping Activity virtual lab university of arizona karyotyping activity
A karyotype is an organized profile of a person's chromosomes, traditionally used to identify large-scale genetic alterations. In this virtual lab, students analyze digital images of chromosomes that have been blocked during mitosis and stained with Giemsa dye.
You just received a new case file. The patient, a young girl named Maya, has been struggling with developmental delays and distinct physical features that have puzzled her doctors for years. Her pediatrician has ordered a chromosomal analysis to look for genetic abnormalities. The location of the "waist" where two sister
– She sees a patient “case file” pop up. No login, no download. Just a real clinical scenario: “Baby Girl T., failure to thrive, unusual facial features.”
You hit the "Verify" button. The computer highlights the three little chromosomes in the bottom row. If you’re a student, do all 5 case studies in one sitting
– After arranging all 23 pairs, the system highlights a triplet of chromosome 21s instead of a pair. Trisomy 21. Down syndrome.
Students navigate through the lab by following these standard procedures: Karyotyping Activity - The Biology Project