Final answer:
Aneuploidy can occur in an individual's cells when nondisjunction, the failure of sister chromatids to separate correctly, happens during mitosis. This results in cells with an abnormal chromosome number, which can affect the body depending on the specific chromosomes involved. While typically associated with meiosis, nondisjunction can also occur in mitosis, affecting tissue growth and repair.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aneuploidy may occur in some cells of an individual if nondisjunction happens during mitosis. Typically, nondisjunction is a phenomenon mostly associated with meiosis, the process by which gametes (sperm or eggs) are produced. However, if nondisjunction occurs during mitotic cell divisions in the body, it can lead to a situation where cells contain an abnormal number of chromosomes.
During mitosis, the sister chromatids are supposed to separate and move to opposite ends of the cell to ensure that each new cell gets the correct number of chromosomes. If this separation, or “disjunction,” fails to occur, resulting in nondisjunction, it can produce cells with an extra chromosome or missing a chromosome. This condition is known as aneuploidy, which can have various consequences depending on which chromosome is involved and how the cells with the abnormal chromosome number behave in the body.
It is important to note that while nondisjunction can occur during either meiosis or mitosis, the context of this question pertains to mitosis, which is not involved in the formation of gametes but in the general growth and repair of tissues.