Karyotypes can be studied to determine an organism’s chromosomal makeup and to detect genetic defects. Patau syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 13, giving them three copies. Symptoms of Patau syndrome include extra digits, seizures, and cleft palate. Which word would geneticists use to describe the cause of Patau syndrome?

Patau syndrome is caused by having three copies of chromosome 13 instead of the usual two. This condition is called a trisomy, so “trisomy” is the correct choice. Homologous describes chromosomes that have matching genes, heterozygous describes different alleles, and diploidy means having two sets of chromosomes.

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