PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ghaffari, S R
AU  - Boyd, E
AU  - Tolmie, J L
AU  - Crow, Y J
AU  - Trainer, A H
AU  - Connor, J M
TI  - A new strategy for cryptic telomeric translocation screening in patients with idiopathic mental retardation.
AID  - 10.1136/jmg.35.3.225
DP  - 1998 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Genetics
PG  - 225--233
VI  - 35
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/35/3/225.short
4100  - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/35/3/225.full
SO  - J Med Genet1998 Mar 01; 35
AB  - Cryptic unbalanced chromosome rearrangements in the telomeric bands of human chromosomes constitute a significant cause of "idiopathic" mental retardation. Here, we have described a new strategy based upon comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) to screen for these abnormalities. A modified CGH analysis showed three unbalanced cryptic rearrangements in five patients from three families. These chromosome abnormalities and their balanced forms in the relatives were then confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). This study describes a new approach to the diagnosis of cryptic translocations between the G band negative ends of chromosomes and confirms the significant contribution of cryptic telomeric rearrangements to idiopathic mental retardation.