[Variability in the expression of the fragile site of the (fra)X chromosome in 2 consecutive cell cycles]

The number and morphology of X chromosomes were analysed in tetraploid cells induced with colcemid in cultured blood lymphocytes obtained from a patient with fra(X) syndrome of mental retardation. In contrast to diploid cells containing fra(X) chromosome in 22.7% of cells, the marker X was found in 51.6% of tetraploids, each cell containing only one fragile X out of the two expected ones. The data obtained indicate an extreme lability of the expression of fragile site (X) (q 27) in consecutive lymphocyte generation.