What happens during meiosis that ultimately results in a defect characterized by the addition of chromosomes?

1. Chromosomal mutations produce changes in whole chromosomes (more than one gene) or in the number of chromosomes present.

Deletion- loss of part of a chromosome

Duplication- extra copies of a part of a chromosome

Inversion- reverse the direction of a part of a chromosome

Translocation- part of a chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome

The gain or loss of chromosome material can lead to a variety of genetic disorders. Human examples include:

Cri du chat, which is caused by the deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 5. "Cri du chat" means "cry of the cat" in French, and the condition was so-named because affected babies make high-pitched cries that sound like a cat. Affected individuals have wide-set eyes, a small head and jaw and are moderately to severely mentally retarded and very short.

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, which is caused by partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4. It is characterized by severe growth retardation and severe to profound mental retardation.

Down's syndrome, usually is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). Characteristics include decreased muscle tone, asymmetrical skull, slanting eyes and mild to moderate mental retardation.

Edward's syndrome, which is the second most common trisomy after Down syndrome. It is a trisomy of chromosome 18. Symptoms include mental and motor retardation and numerous congenital anomalies causing serious health problems. Ninety percent die in infancy; however, those who live past their first birthday usually are quite healthy thereafter. They have a characteristic hand appearance with clenched hands and overlapping fingers.

Patau Syndrome, also called D-Syndrome or trisomy-13. Symptoms are somewhat similar to those of trisomy-18, but they do not have the characteristic hand shape.

Idic15, abbreviation for Isodicentric 15 on chromosome 15; also called the following names due to various researches, but they all mean the same; IDIC(15), Inverted dupliction 15, extra Marker, Inv dup 15, partial tetrasomy 15

Jacobsen syndrome, also called the terminal 11q deletion disorder.[1] This is a very rare disorder. Those affected have normal intelligence or mild mental retardation, with poor expressive language skills. Most have a bleeding disorder called Paris-Trousseau syndrome.

Klinefelter's syndrome (XXY). Men with Klinefelter syndrome are usually sterile, and tend to have longer arms and legs and to be taller than their peers. Boys with the syndrome are often shy and quiet, and have a higher incidence of speech delay and dyslexia. During puberty, without testosterone treatment, some of them may develop gynecomastia.

Turner syndrome (X instead of XX or XY). In Turner syndrome, female sexual characteristics are present but underdeveloped. People with Turner syndrome often have a short stature, low hairline, abnormal eye features and bone development and a "caved-in" appearance to the chest.

XYY syndrome. XYY boys are usually taller than their siblings. Like XXY boys and XXX girls, they are somewhat more likely to have learning difficulties.

Triple-X syndrome (XXX). XXX girls tend to be tall and thin and are often shy. They have a higher incidence of dyslexia.

Small supernumerary marker chromosome. This means there is an extra, abnormal chromosome. Features depend on the origin of the extra genetic material. Cat-eye syndrome and isodicentric chromosome 15 syndrome (or Idic15) are both caused by a supernumerary marker chromosome, as is Pallister-Killian syndrome.

2.

The generally accepted theory is that males determine the sex because males can donate both an X chromosome or Y chromosome, while females can only donate an X chromosome to their offspring, making their contribution constant and the male's contribution the variable which, under normal circumstances, determines the offspring's genetic sex... at least, in humans*.

1. Error during anaphase II of meiosis(spindle fibers do not attach to the centromeres and are thus unable to 'pull properly) . Causes problems like Trisomy-21, when there is 3 chromosomes for the chromosome pair-21, aka Down's syndrome. There are also cases of XXY, aka Klinefelter's syndrome. Some defected embryos do not survive the gestation period if they have a trisomy of certain pairs of chromosomes, as they sort of 'self-destruct'.

2. The female haploid sex cell carries only the X sex chromosome. The male sex cell carries either a X or a Y, That's why the male determines the gender.

What Happens During Meiosis

1. I'm guessing that it's incomplete seperation of the replicated strands. Not sure.

2.

Males have two sex chromosomes X and Y ( = XY). Females have only X and X. (= XX)

The mother will always donate an X to the child. The child's other sex chromosome comes from the father.

If the child inherits the father's X chromosome, the child will have X (from mother) and X (from father) = XX = girl.

If the child inherits teh father's Y chromosome, the child with have and X (from mother) and a Y (from father) = XY = male.