The Best of What's Around

I am a woman. Ya, that is right. And I have proof!

In my program, we had to do a three week rotation in the cytogenetics lab at the Montreal Children's Hosptial. Cytogenetics describes the field that analyzes chromosomes and looks to see if people have normal "karyotypes" or 46 normal chromosomes. As part of our rotation, they took are blood and offered to analyze our chromosomes.

A free chromosome analysis to prove that I am normal?!!! How could I pass up a chance like this. And, as many of you know me, I constantly worry about things beyond my control and I have started to become concerned with the fact that, maybe when I want to have kids, I will have a chromosomal abnormality that will make this more difficult. Yes, this is actually something that consummed my thoughts from time to time.

So, I was karyotyped and everything (for the most part) was fine. I do say for the most part because there was one cell that we analyzed that appeared to be missing a chromosome, but this is not really possible, considering I am alive (it was more of a computer glitch than a real missing chromosome).

Here are my chromosomes.


Aren't they cute? That is me on that paper. That is half of my father and half of my mother on there. CRAZY!

So, if you can't tell from this post, I really like my program. It is totally up my ally. I am really liking all the classes that I am taking and I next week I actually get to start sitting in on sessions with patients. I am excited, and nervous, but I am sure that it will be fine.

Mother, father please explain to me,how this rare world has come to be - DMB

Labels: 2006, rachel