A virtual karyotype refers to a digital image of an individual's chromosomes. There are several synonyms for this term, including chromosomal analysis, chromosomal mapping, and cytogenetic analysis. Other terms that are used in conjunction with virtual karyotyping include molecular cytogenetics and comparative genomic hybridization. While these terms all refer to the same process of analyzing an individual's chromosomes, they may be used in specific contexts. For example, molecular cytogenetics may refer to the use of molecular biology techniques to analyze chromosomes, while comparative genomic hybridization may specifically refer to the comparison of an individual's chromosomes with a reference genome. Regardless of the terminology used, virtual karyotyping is an important tool in genetics research and clinical diagnosis.