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translocation

genetics
Also known as: chromosomal translocation

Quick Summary

A translocation is a type of chromosomal abnormality where a segment of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to a different, nonhomologous chromosome. This can occur during the formation of sperm or egg cells or in early embryonic development.123

While a cell with a balanced translocation may function normally, it can lead to issues during meiosis, the process of cell division that creates reproductive cells. This is because the rearranged chromosomes may not pair correctly, potentially resulting in gametes with missing or extra genetic material. These unbalanced products typically lead to inviability, making individuals with heterozygous translocations generally "half-sterile".2

Translocations are linked to certain types of human cancers, including leukemias and lymphomas. For example, the Philadelphia chromosome, a translocation associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia, fuses two genes to create a hybrid oncogene that promotes abnormal cell proliferation.4

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