Translocations occur when chromosomes become broken during meiosis and the resulting fragment becomes joined to another chromosome. Reciprocal translocations: In a balanced reciprocal translocation (Fig. 2.3), genetic material is exchanged between two chromosomes with no apparent loss.

How does translocation occur in DNA?

Translocations generally result from swapping of chromosomal arms between heterologous chromosomes and hence are reciprocal in nature (Figure 1) (8,9). DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are prerequisites for such translocations, although little is known about their generation.

What causes translocation in genes?

A translocation is a type of abnormal change in the structure of a chromosome that occurs when a part of one chromosome breaks off and sticks to another chromosome. These "mutations" are an important cause of many types of lymphomas and leukemias.