Question

What is the difference between paracentric inversions and pericentric inversions?

1) Paracentric inversions require breakpoints that flank the chromosome, whereas pericentric inversions do not.
2) Paracentric inversions require breakpoints that do not flank the chromosome, whereas pericentric inversions do.
3) Paracentric inversions require breakpoints that flank the chromosome, whereas pericentric inversions also require breakpoints that flank the chromosome.
4) Paracentric inversions require breakpoints that do not flank the chromosome, whereas pericentric inversions also require breakpoints that do not flank the chromosome.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 2, which states that paracentric inversions occur outside of the centromere and do not change the chromosome arms' lengths, while pericentric inversions include the centromere and can alter the lengths of the chromosome arms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chromosome inversions are types of genetic rearrangements where a segment of a chromosome is reversed end to end. When discussing paracentric and pericentric inversions, the main differentiation lies in the involvement of the centromere. A paracentric inversion does not include the centromere and does not change the length of chromosome arms. Conversely, a pericentric inversion includes the centromere and can change the length of the chromosome arms if the inversion is asymmetric.

Answering the question, option 2 is the correct choice: Paracentric inversions require breakpoints that do not flank the chromosome, whereas pericentric inversions do. This means that for a paracentric inversion, the breakpoints occur on one arm of the chromosome, excluding the centromere. In contrast, pericentric inversions have breakpoints that occur on both arms, thereby including the centromere.

Pericentric inversions involve the centromere and can alter the arms’ lengths, while paracentric inversions do not include the centromere and do not affect the arms’ lengths.