Best sample for DNA karyotyping –
The question is asking which sample is best for this. The options aren't listed, but common samples for karyotyping include blood (usually peripheral blood lymphocytes), amniotic fluid, chorionic villus, or bone marrow. Blood is the most common because lymphocytes can be cultured to allow for cell division, which is necessary for analyzing chromosomes. Amniotic fluid is used for prenatal testing, and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is another prenatal method. Bone marrow might be used in certain cases like leukemia, but that's less common for standard karyotyping.
So the correct answer should be peripheral blood. Now, the wrong options would include things like urine, saliva, or maybe other bodily fluids that don't provide the necessary cells. For example, if an option was urine, that's incorrect because it doesn't contain enough viable cells for karyotyping. Similarly, if an option was a solid tissue sample without the ability to culture cells, that might not be suitable.
I need to structure the explanation with the required sections. The core concept is that karyotyping requires dividing cells to observe chromosomes during mitosis. The correct answer is blood because lymphocytes can be cultured. The incorrect options are other samples that don't provide dividing cells. The clinical pearl would be remembering that blood is the standard sample for karyotype analysis.
**Core Concept**
DNA karyotyping requires a source of dividing cells to analyze chromosomal structure and number. **Peripheral blood lymphocytes** are the most common sample due to their ease of culture and mitotic activity, enabling high-resolution banding patterns for accurate chromosome analysis.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
**Peripheral blood lymphocytes** are ideal because they can be stimulated to divide in vitro (e.g., with phytohemagglutinin), allowing metaphase arrest and detailed chromosomal visualization. This method provides the highest resolution for detecting abnormalities like trisomies, translocations, or deletions. Other samples, such as amniotic fluid or chorionic villi, are used in prenatal settings but are not the "best" for routine karyotyping.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A: Urine** – Contains few viable nucleated cells and lacks the dividing cells needed for karyotyping.
**Option B: Saliva** – Primarily composed of non-dividing epithelial cells, which are unsuitable for chromosome analysis.
**Option C: Bone marrow** – Used for karyotyping in hematologic malignancies but is not the standard for general chromosomal studies.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember: **"Blood for the karyotype—lymphocytes divide and show the genotype."** Always prioritize peripheral blood lymphocytes for routine karyotyping unless prenatal or tumor-specific testing is indicated. Avoid using non-dividing cells (e.g., buccal swabs) for this purpose.
**Correct Answer: C. Peripheral blood**