Practice question

Robertsonian translocation, or centric fusion, specifically involves breaks near centromeres of acrocentric chromosomes – chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22 in humans, whose short arms contain ribosomal DNA repeats and minimal unique genes. Long arms fuse to form a single large metacentric derivative, while short arms are lost with little consequence. Carriers have 45 chromosomes but retain essentially diploid gene content. Predilection for acrocentrics relates to association of their short arms in nucleolus organizer regions during meiosis, facilitating misdivision and fusion.