A cytogenetic study, done on randomized coded slides, of 90 patients with idiopathic mental retardation and at least 3 other developmentally independent congenital anomalies and of 90 normal subjects is reported. Audiatorography, Q-banding and C-staining were used in the analysis of chromosomally abnormal cases. Eight patients were found to have chromosome abnormalities. Four had substantial chromosome aberrations that would be expected to cause abnormal phenotype. These were CD165 (46,18q-); CD25 (46,18q+) (partial trisomy of 10q); CD175 (46,4q+) and CD95 (46,mar22). In addition, 4 patients were found to have chromosomal anomalies that could not account for their conditions. Three of these were considered to have heterochromatic variants. Patient CD167 had an 9qh+ chromosome which had been inherited from her mother. Case CD137 had a No. 19 chromosome with additional centric heterochromatin. A similar chromosome was found in her mother, maternal grandmother and 2 of 3 half sibs. In patient CD125 a telocentric No. 13 was found. In addition, CD80 was shown to have an XYY constitution. In the normal subjects, no unbalanced chromosome rearrangements were found. Four persons, however, had minor chromosome anomalies. Three were considered to have heterochromatic variants. These were CD54 (46,22p+); CD149 (46,21p+) and CD19 (46,tel22). One normal subject (CD51) was found to be a balanced t(13q14q) carrier. The translocation chromosome had been inherited from his father.