Deletion 16 Karyotype


chromosome 16 deletion karyotype


This karyotype is an example of a simple deletion in one chromosome. In this case a segment within the q, or long arm of the right chromosome 16 is deleted. In this particular example there are two microscopically visible breaks within the long arm making it an interstitial deletion. If there had been one break resulting in the loss of the end of a chromosome this would be called a terminal deletion. The karyotype is written as: 46,XX,del(16)(q13q22). The key to the karyotype description is as follows:
  • 46:  the total number of chromosomes.

  • XX:  the sex chromosomes (female).

  • del(16):  deletion in chromosome 16.

  • (q13q22):  breakpoints of the deleted segment.


The following ideogram gives a detailed illustration of this interstitial deletion.

deletion 16 ideogram



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