What is meant by the term translocation?
Matthew Cannon
Updated on January 14, 2026
(TRANZ-loh-KAY-shun) A genetic change in which a piece of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome. Sometimes pieces from two different chromosomes will trade places with each other.
What's translocation mean?
Definition of translocation: the act, process, or an instance of changing location or position: such as. a : the conduction of soluble material (such as metabolic products) from one part of a plant to another.
What is translocation in human biology?
TranslocationA translocation, as related to genetics, occurs when a chromosome breaks and the (typically two) fragmented pieces re-attach to different chromosomes. The detection of chromosomal translocations can be important for the diagnosis of certain genetic diseases and disorders.