Derivative chromosome

A derivative chromosome (der) is a structurally rearranged chromosome generated either by a rearrangement involving two or more chromosomes or by multiple aberrations within a single chromosome (e.g. an inversion and a deletion of the same chromosome, or deletions in both arms of a single chromosome). The term always refers to the chromosome that has an intact centromere. Derivative chromosomes are designated by the abbreviation der when used to describe a Karyotype. The derivative chromosome must be specified in parentheses followed by all aberrations involved in this derivative chromosome. The aberrations must be listed from pter to qter and not be separated by a comma.

For example, 46,XY,der(4)t(4;8)(p16;q22)t(4;9)(q31;q31) would refer to a derivative chromosome 4 which is the result of a translocation between the short arm of chromosome 4 at band 16 and the long arm of chromosome 8 at band 22, and a translocation between the long arm of chromosome 4 at band 31 and the long arm of chromosome 9 at band 31.

Derivative chromosomes and other abnormalities could be drawn online using CyDAS online tools (Hiller B, Bradtke J, Balz H and Rieder H (2004): "CyDAS Online Analysis Site", http://www.cydas.org/OnlineAnalysis/)

References

An International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature, Shaffer, L.G., Tommerup N. (eds); S. Karger, Basel 2005