funded by

Class SexChromosomes

Overview

• Constructors
• Interfaces
• Enumerations
• Properties
• Methods
• Interaction with other classes

Programming Language

• Microsoft Visual Basic .Net.

Availability

• Copyrighted but free software under the GNU Public License.
• Binaries and source code can be obtained from the Download section.

Constructors

Public Sub New()

Parameters

• None.

Remarks

• This constructor is meant for COM compatibility. Since all properties can be set later, a general use is possible.

Public Sub New(ByVal Description As String)

Parameters

• Description: a textual description of the sex chromosomes field according to the ISCN.

Exceptions

• Exception: If the textual description of the sex chromosomes contains characters which are not compatible for sex chromosomes, an exception showing a description of the problem and the illegal character is shown.

Remarks

• The Description parameter is not case-sensitive.
• A correct sequence of X and Y in the Description is not required; the correct sequence can be obtained via the toString() function.
• Accepted characters are: "X","Y" for the chromosomes proper, "?" for uncertain chromosomes, "c" for constitutional alterations.
• Note that rearranged sex chromosomes are not denoted in the sex chromosomes field, but as regular aberrations.

Examples

• mySC = New SexChromosomes("XY") initializes a SexChromosomes object for a normal male karyotype.
• mySC = New SexChromosomes("XcYX") initializes a SexChromosomes object for a Klinefelter karyotype; the toString() function will show the sex chromosomes in the correct order as "XXYc".

Interfaces

ICloneable

Enumerations

Properties

Constitutional As Boolean

Property Value

• a value indicating if the alteration in the sex chromosomes is constitutional.

Remarks

• this property is used with e.g. Klinefelter or Triple-X syndromes.

NumberOfX() As Integer

Property Value

• the number of X chromosomes.

Remarks

• For uncertain X chromosomes, the NumberOfQuestionedX property is used.

Examples

• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XXX"), NumberOfX is 3.
• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("X?XY"), NumberOfX is 1.

NumberOfQuestionedX() As Integer

Property Value

• the number of uncertain X chromosomes.

Remarks

• For certain X chromosomes, the NumberOfX property is used.

Examples

• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XXX"), NumberOfQuestionedX is 0.
• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("X?XY"), NumberOfQuestionedX is 1.

NumberOfY() As Integer

Property Value

• the number of Y chromosomes.

Remarks

• For uncertain Y chromosomes, the NumberOfQuestionedY property is used.

Examples

• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XYY"), NumberOfY is 2.
• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XY?Y"), NumberOfY is 1.

NumberOfQuestionedY() As Integer

Property Value

• the number of uncertain Y chromosomes.

Remarks

• For certain Y chromosomes, the NumberOfY property is used.

Examples

• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XYY"), NumberOfQuestionedY is 0.
• With mySC = New SexChromosomes("XY?Y"), NumberOfQuestionedY is 1.

Methods

Public Function clone() As Object Implements ICloneable.Clone

Return Value

• A copy of the SexChromosomes object.

Implements

• ICloneable.Clone

Remarks

• The SexChromosomes object does not contain data of reference type, cloning is done by copying all its class wide variables.

Public Function hasSexChromosomes() As Boolean

Return Value

• an indication if sex chromosomes are present.

Remarks

• It does not matter if the chromosomes were questioned or not.
• Note that rearranged sex chromosomes are not denoted in the sex chromosomes field, but as regular aberrations; hence, an absence of sex chromosomes may be caused by such rearrangements.

Public Shadows Function toString() As String

Return Value

• a textual description of the SexChromosomes.

Remarks

• The description strictly foolows the ISCN standards, also when the input did not follow the standards.

Interaction with other classes

Classes using SexChromosomes