Which term refers to the rearrangement of pieces of nonhomologous chromosomes?

The term that refers to the rearrangement of pieces of nonhomologous chromosomes is translocation. In genetics, translocation occurs when segments of chromosomes break off and attach to different, nonhomologous chromosomes. This can lead to an exchange of genetic material between chromosomes that are not alike, potentially resulting in various genetic consequences.

For example, translocations can disrupt gene function or regulation, leading to conditions such as certain cancers or genetic disorders if the translocated genes are involved in critical pathways. The process is distinct because it specifically involves nonhomologous chromosomes, differentiating it from other processes such as deletion, which involves the loss of a chromosome segment, or nondisjunction, which refers to the failure of chromosome pairs to separate properly during division, resulting in an abnormal number of chromosomes in the daughter cells. Similarly, aneuploidy describes an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell, often resulting from nondisjunction, rather than the rearrangement of chromosome segments.