Partial trisomy of chromosome no. 1 in two adult brothers due to maternal translocation (1q-;6p+)

Abstract

Extra chromosome material on the short arm of chromosome no. 6 (46,XY,6p+) was found in two mentally retarded adult half-brothers with mildly dysmorphic features. The phenotypically normal mother had a balanced translocation between the long arm of chromosome no. 1 and the short arm of chromosome no. 6: 46,XX,t(1;6)(q32;p25). Thus the two affected brothers were trisomic for the long arm segment of chromosome no. 1, distal to q32. These patients, with mildly dysmorphic features and mental retardation, represent the first cases of partial trisomy 1q surviving to adulthood. The clinical and cytogenetic data obtained from eight individuals with partial trisomies for different long arm segments of chromosome no. 1 suggest that partial trisomy of the distal two-thirds of the long arm is characterized by severe malformations, growth retardation, and early death. Conversely, partial trisomy for the distal one-third of the long arm is associated with milder malformations and longer survival time as well as growth and mental retardation.