Karyotype

In normal diploid organisms, autosomal chromosomes are present in two identical copies, although polyploid cells have multiple copies of chromosomes and haploid cells have single copies. The chromosomes are arranged and displayed (often on a photo) in a standard format known as an idiogram: in pairs, ordered by size and position of centromere for chromosomes of the same size. Karyotypes are used to study chromosomal aberrations, and may be used to determine other macroscopically visible aspects of an individual's genotype, such as sex. In order to be able to see the chromosomes and determine their size and internal pattern, they are chemically labeled with a dye ("stained"). The pattern of individual chromosomes is called chromosome banding, whereas the study of whole sets of chromosomes is known as karyology.

Normal human karyotypes contain 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. Normal karyotypes for women contain two X chromosomes and are denoted 46,XX; men have both an X and a Y chromosome denoted 46,XY. However, some individuals have other karyotypes with added or missing sex chromosomes, including 47,XYY, 47,XXY, 47,XXX and 45,X. The karyotype 45,Y does not occur, as an embryo without an X chromosome cannot survive.