A chromosome alteration in which a whole chromosome or segment of a chromosome becomes attached to or interchanged with another whole chromosome or segment, the resulting hybrid segregating together at meiosis; balanced translocations (in which there is no net loss or gain of chromosome material) are usually not associated with phenotypic abnormalities, although gene disruptions at the breakpoints of the translocation can, in some cases, cause adverse effects, including some known genetic disorders; unbalanced translocations (in which there is loss or gain of chromosome material) nearly always yield an abnormal phenotype.Another meanings Breakage and removal of a large segment of DNA from one chromosome, followed by the segment's attachment to a different chromosome. Some forms of cancer develop when two of the total of 46 DNA threads break apart and when blueprints for important proteins are located at the sites of breakage. Repair functions in the cell make sure that the broken DNA threads reconnect. Unfortunately, sometimes they are unable to recognize which fragments belong to each other. As a result, the wrong DNA threads are often connected. The effect of this is that the disrupted blueprints are reconnected wrongly. The first part of the blueprint for the protein A ends with the second part of the blueprint for protein B, and vice versa. What is generated is a protein that does not work correctly, if at all. In a figurative way, this could be compared to what would happen if pages with two different recipes were swapped in a cook book. The pizza dough is to be sprinkled with almonds and chocolate flakes, and for chocolate cookies, cheese and salami is suggested as a coating. For the body cell, however, the incorrectly composed protein "recipe" has grave consequences; usually, it is even fatal. Translocation may refer to:
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