Define the term translocation and describe the two major types and their phenotypic consequences. ...

Translocations move part of a chromosome to another, nonhomologous chromosome. There are two major types of translocations: reciprocal translocations and Robertsonian translocations. In a reciprocal translocation, two nonhomologous chromosomes exchange parts. No genetic information is gained or lost from the cell in the exchange, but genes are moved to new chromosomal locations. In some cases, there are no phenotypic effects, and the translocation is passed through a family for generations. Robertsonian translocations can produce genetically unbalanced gametes with duplicated or deleted chromosomal segments that can result in embryonic death or abnormal offspring.