Cytogenetically visible copy number variations (CG-CNVs) in banding and molecular cytogenetics of human; about heteromorphisms and euchromatic variants

BACKGROUND: Copy number variations (CNVs) having no (obvious) clinical effects were rediscovered as major part of human genome in 2004. However, for every cytogeneticist microscopically visible harmless CNVs (CG-CNVs) are well known since decades. Harmless CG-CNVs can be present as heterochromatic or even as euchromatic variants in clinically healthy persons. RESULTS: Here I provide a review on what is known today on the still too little studied harmless human CG-CNVs, point out which can be mixed up with clinically relevant pathological CG-CNVs and shortly discuss that the artificial separation of euchromatic submicroscopic CNVs (MG-CNVs) and euchromatic CG-CNVs is no longer timely. CONCLUSION: Overall, neither so-called harmless heterochromatic nor so-called harmless euchromatic CG-CNVs are considered enough in evaluation of routine cytogenetic analysis and reporting. This holds especially true when bearing in mind the so-called two-hit model suggesting that combination of per se harmless CNVs may lead to clinical aberrations if they are present together in one patient.