Chromosome 17Yoofi Mensah

What is a Chromosome?

A chromosome is a special structure made up of DNA and proteins. DNA is what make us all unique.

The proteins are called histones. They act as spools so the DNA can wrap around it, which is why chromosomes have a peculiar X shape.

Every person has 23 pairs of chromosomes, meaning that we all have 46 chromosomes. They are found in the nucleus, the boss of the cell.

Chromosome 17

Of the 23 chromosomes, Number 17 is linked to the most health conditions. These can happen in a few ways…

Deletion

Part of the chromosome is missing or deleted. An example of this is Koolen-de Vries syndrome where the person has a lot of physical and

intellectual disabilities.

Translocations

Part of the chromosome is transferred to another. An example of this is dermatofibrosarcoma which is a rare type of skin cancer.

Cures/Treatments

There is no found cure for Koolen-de Vries syndrome but there are ways doctors can treat it to prevent severe mental and physical impairment

There is a cure for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans called Gleevec• Take 2 pills of Gleevec (800 mg/dL) a day• 65% Success Rate

References

• http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/053/601/original/chromosome-130607.jpg?1370605702

• http://civitas.central.edu.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/shutterstock_88665217.jpg

• http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2012/12/24/nyu-biologists-identify-proteins-vital-to-chromosome-segregation/jcr:content/image.img.jpg/1355849320648.jpg

• https://ajweinmann.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/nucleus.jpg

• http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/illustrations/chromosomaldeletion.jpg

• http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v20/n7/images/ejhg20121f1.jpg

• http://www.heritagedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/chromo1.jpg

• http://www.rxlist.com/gleevec-drug.htm

• http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome/17