[Satellite associations in trisomy 21 (author's transl)]

Satellite associations and cell-cycle kinetics were investigated in short-term blood cultures from selected pairs of chromosomally normal persons and patients with trisomy 21. The cell-cycle duration was found to be longer in patients with trisomy than in normal persons. The frequency of satellite associations and the involvement of chromosomes 21 with them showed no difference between the two groups of persons. The involvement of the homologues of a pair (or triplets) of chromosomes 21 in satellite associations showed remarkable individual differences. No correlation between satellite association and meiotic non-disjunction can be established on the basis of these results.