Final answer:
A translocation in genetics refers to the movement of a chromosome segment to a new location in the genome, often to a nonhomologous chromosome. This can have a range of effects, from benign to deleterious, such as in the case of certain cancers and schizophrenia.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a region of a chromosome is moved to a new location in the genome, this is referred to as a translocation. A translocation occurs when a segment of a chromosome dissociates and reattaches to a different, nonhomologous chromosome. Translocations can be benign or may have significant effects on the organism.
For instance, they are implicated in certain types of cancers, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, wherein the translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22 results in the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome and the production of an oncogenic tyrosine kinase, BCR-abl fusion protein.