Chromosome Socks

Chromosome Socks

• A karyotype is a complete set of chromosomes in an individual, seen under a light microscope. Chromosomes are shown in pairs, ordered by size. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. They have a characteristic banding pattern, revealed by the Giemsa stain that binds to heterochromatin, or tightly packed regions of DNA.

Chromosomal abnormalities, especially extra or missing copies, are revealed by karyotyping. Examples are Down syndrome (trisomy of chromosome 21), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), and Turner syndrome (missing X). Large chunks of missing DNA are obvious, as in Cri du chat (cry of the cat), from a truncated short arm on chromosome 5. The name comes from the babies’ distinctive cry, caused by abnormal formation of the larynx. Breaks can occur with certain cancers (e.g., Philadelphia chromosome).

Sock arrangement by Gina Glover; ginaglover.com

Real karyotype: http://goo.gl/1FrRH

#sciencesunday  

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53 Responses to Chromosome Socks

  1. Bob Calder says:


    So if you got chromosome socks would you have to stand with your feet strangely contorted all day?

  2. Rajini Rao says:


    Nothing that strenuous. But you could champion a different set of chromosomes every working day of the month.


    Unless you had one of those no good unmatched Y socks 😉


  3. Fer gawd’s sake, don’t tug on the telomeres!


  4. those poor Y chromosomes. they are just X chromosomes that are missing a leg.


  5. These would be awesome – if you lost one, you’d just have to borrow an RNA socklet and it could zip you off a replacement!


  6. Years ago Spike Milligan wrote a wonderful little book called Unspun Socks from a Chicken’s Laundry. He was obviously a prescient scientist…  😉

  7. Rajini Rao says:


    No problem with mismatched socks. It just means you are undergoing recombination.

  8. Rajini Rao says:


    Does the single Y sock represent a guy who’s been through the dryer?

  9. Billy Hung says:


    Rajini Rao _Does the single Y sock represent a guy who’s been through the dryer?_


    Stop making fun of our sizes. 😦

  10. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL! Mr. Y is single and needs to find a match. His date is the stately and tall Ms. X


    🙂

  11. Bob Calder says:


    But seriously – a robotic sock knitter could be stacked on top of a roomba and knit socks from found material.

  12. Rajini Rao says:


    Shrinkage = heterochromatin.


    Dryer turned on, genes turned off.


  13. If greyhound fur had a longer staple, our roomba could knit a circus tent, Bob Calder. 

  14. Rajini Rao says:


    What about all that dryer lint. One could reconstitute another Y chromosome from it.


  15. from dryer lint, one could reconstitute the whole universe

  16. Rajini Rao says:


    That is a profound thought 😉


    If you look closely at this dryer, you will see a troll face http://goo.gl/xCfvt


    Stolen from the comment stream of that old post, our lonely Y needs Matchsock.com.

  17. J Stasko says:


    Clothing is really just highly organized lint.  Uh-oh, so the dryer is an entropy generator?


  18. So, we have been misled for aeons. Reproduction has nothing to do with sex. It is all about socks. That is how you get the pitter-patter of little feet. The problem is getting the right pair together in the first place. Y has to find X.


    Then Y socks it to X, X knits bootees… Thank you so much Rajini Rao for enlightening us.


    Rewrite the textbooks!

  19. Rajini Rao says:


    I knit my brow trying to find sock puns, but the dryer ate all the punch lines. One learns to admit defeet and toe the line. 


  20. Rajini Rao you deserve a sock in the mouth for puns that bad.

  21. Rajini Rao says:


    Were they so baa d, I feel sheepish.


  22. You should feel sheepish; they were ewe-full

  23. Rajini Rao says:


    I kid you not, but ever since I was knee-high, I’ve spun many a yarn, and tried to pull wool over my teacher’s eyes before she cottoned on.


  24. You’ve really been stocking up on bad puns. I wonder if it’s in your jeans.

  25. Rajini Rao says:


    I once had a mutant chromosome, but then I went to the tailor and got new genes. Designer, of course.

  26. Bill Carter says:


    I just stopped by to say I love this idea – thanks for posting it!


  27. Rajini Rao you in designer genes would be Xtra hottY

  28. Deeksha Tare says:


    Wow! What an innovative way to depict the chromosomes! 🙂


  29. Darn it all – it really needles me that I missed all this punderous action. 


  30. sew just join in David Archer 


  31. Nobilangelo Ceramalus In fact reproduction uses to be easier if you take off your shoes.


  32. love this, it looks much colorful better than an actual giesma karyotype


  33. Beautiful pairs of socks… Price plz… 😉

  34. Rajini Rao says:


    Víktor Bautista i Roca , unless shoes are needed for a quick getaway!


  35. A great contribution to #sockwars  and #socksunday  … ;-D


    Sorry … I couldn’t resist … 😉


  36. Not too late to treadle on everyone’s pedal extremities, if you’re warped enough to weftly shuttle in a few more puns, Feisal Kamil! 

  37. Rajini Rao says:


    I’m afraid we’re all wrung out of puns. Hate to sock it to you, but I’ve gotta run. Argyle you later!


  38. This may be the sock thread that wouldn’t dye.

  39. Rajini Rao says:


    There was a temporary suspender in the comments. But now it has a second run. 

  40. RJ Matlock says:


    X looks like #8..but who has three feet !  Y looks like it was in the dryer too long

  41. RJ Matlock says:


    it would help if i read other comments first?


  42. hello there!!i kind of like u..wow!!i Want 2 study pharmacy in india..now am nt rily familiar wit the university dat side if u wud lead me to the best medical university addimitin 2013 academic year please! i ll rily appreciate!


  43. o.k wat am tryna say is dat u help me by tellin me the best medical university in india..

  44. Rajini Rao says:


    Queenver Mwaba , I’m not an expert on medical universities in India. The internet is a great source of information, start there. Good luck!


  45. wow!!thanks a lot..so wat do u do..i guess u ar a medical doctor!

  46. Ram Sew says:


    You are a allround expert, please go on… Thnks


  47. WRONG!  “Turner syndrome (missing X).”  Prove it is the X missing, why can’t it be a Y?   Actually is can just as easily be a Y.  XXY is not Klinefelter’s syndrome, that’s a well established fallacy accepted as fact. 

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