Translocation

Translocation refers to an exchange of chromosome
segments. A translocation can arise by
centric fusion of two acrocentric chromosomes
(Robertsonian translocation) or by exchange
between two chromosomes (reciprocal translocation).
With centric fusion, two complete chromosomes
are involved; with reciprocal translocation,
only a part of each of the two chromosomes
is exchanged. In a translocation it is important
to determine the breakpoints in each of
the chromosomes involved.