Meaning & use
cytogenetics
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablespecialist
The branch of science that studies chromosomes and how their structure and number relate to inherited traits and diseases.
Grammar: Singular verb despite the s: cytogenetics is difficult.
Patterns
- cytogenetics of something
- a cytogenetics laboratory
Cytogenetics helps doctors spot extra chromosomes that cause some syndromes.
She trained in cytogenetics before joining the cancer research unit.
Advances in cytogenetics have improved prenatal testing.
noununcountablemedical
The laboratory methods and tests used to examine chromosomes in cells.
Grammar: Often used before a noun: cytogenetics testing.
Patterns
- cytogenetics test
- cytogenetics lab
The cytogenetics lab examined the patient's blood cells for abnormalities.
A cytogenetics report confirmed the diagnosis.
The clinic offers cytogenetics testing for leukemia.
Common combinations
- clinical cytogenetics
- Clinical cytogenetics supports the diagnosis of rare conditions.
- cytogenetics laboratory
- The cytogenetics laboratory processes dozens of samples a day.
- molecular cytogenetics
- Molecular cytogenetics uses fluorescent probes to mark genes.
- cytogenetics testing
- Cytogenetics testing detected the abnormality early.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chromosome analysis
- Chromosome analysis names the specific lab work, while cytogenetics names the whole field.
- karyotyping
- Karyotyping is one particular technique within cytogenetics, not the entire field.
- genetics
- Genetics is much broader and covers genes at every level, not only the study of chromosomes.
Word family
Commonly confused: cytogenetics or cytology?
cytogenetics vs cytology
Cytology is the study of cells in general; cytogenetics focuses specifically on chromosomes and inheritance.
Practice
A doctor sends a blood sample to the ____ laboratory to check for chromosome abnormalities.
Choose one answer.
Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes, so that lab checks chromosome abnormalities. Cytology looks at cells more generally and is the tempting wrong option.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cytogenetics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.