46,XX,t(15;21)/47,XX,15p-,+21 mosaicism in a child with Down's syndrome

Ann Genet. 1986;29(2):104-6.

Abstract

We report here the first case of a mosaic Down's syndrome in which both clones are trisomic for chromosome 21, one of them (90%) by a Robertsonian translocation (15;21) appearing de novo, and the other (10%) by an additional chromosome 21. Three hypotheses can explain the appearance of such a mosaic: that of a chimera formed by the fusion of two trisomy 21 zygotes, one of which had a Robertsonian translocation, the other an additional trisomy 21 zygote; that of a fusion between a chromosome 15 and a chromosome 21 in one of the early segmentation blastomeres of a trisomy 21 zygote; the more probable hypothesis of the occurrence of a fission at the break-attachment point of a Robertsonian translocation (15;21) in one of the cells arising from the early postzygotic divisions of a zygote which was a trisomy 21 by Robertsonian translocation (15;21).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15
  • Down Syndrome / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Karyotyping
  • Mosaicism*
  • Translocation, Genetic