A rearrangement of the chromosomes inside a person’s cells; it is a type of mutation. Sections of chromosomes may be exchanged or the main parts of 2 chromosomes may be joined. A translocation may be inherited or acquired as the result of a new mutation. A translocation often has no obvious effect, and causes no abnormality. However, in some cases, it can mean that some of the affected person’s egg or sperm cells carry too much or too little chromosomal material, which may cause a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down’s syndrome, in his or her children.
Translocation |
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