Question

G. what happens if a homologous pair of chromosomes fails to separate, and how might this contribute to genetic disorders such as down syndrome and cri du chat syndrome?

Answer 1

Cri du chat syndrome is caused by a partial deletion of chromosome 5p. Down syndrome is a result of an extra copy of chromosome 21. Non-disjunction occurs and the result is that one gamete has 2 copies of one chromosome and the other has no copies of that chromosome.