Chromosome abnormalities can be inherited from parents

By Hansa Venkateswaran

Chromosome abnormalities can be inherited from a parent or be 'de novo' (new to the individual).

This is why, when a child is found to have an abnormality, chromosome studies are often performed on the parents. Chromosome abnormalities occur as an accident in an ovum or the sperm. In such cases, the abnormality is present in all cells of the body. However, some abnormalities happen after conception: then some cells have the abnormality and some do not.