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Mosaicism

From , former About.com Guide

Updated April 21, 2009

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Definition:

When discussing genetics, mosaicism means that the cells in a person's body do not all have the same chromosomal makeup. Some cells may be affected by a trisomy, for example, whereas other cells have a normal number of chromosomes. The degree of mosaicism can vary widely, causing minor to severe effects on a person's health.

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