Which type of translocation involves the centromere of another chromosome?

Robertsonian translocation is a specific type of chromosomal rearrangement that occurs when the long arms of two acrocentric chromosomes fuse at their centromeres, resulting in a single chromosome. This type of translocation typically involves chromosomes with very short p arms, such as chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22 in humans. The fusion at the centromeres leads to the formation of a compound chromosome, which contains the centromeric region of one of the involved chromosomes.

In the context of genetic and cytogenetic studies, Robertsonian translocations are particularly significant because they can lead to the loss of genetic material from the short arms of the involved chromosomes while preserving the long arms, which usually contain the majority of the genetic information. This can potentially have phenotypic effects, depending on the genes located in these regions. Additionally, individuals carrying a Robertsonian translocation might have reproductive implications, as these translocations can lead to unbalanced gametes and therefore increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring.

This characteristic of involving centromeres and fusing the long arms distinguishes Robertsonian translocations from other types of translocations, such as reciprocal and unbalanced translocations, which do not necessarily involve