What type of chromosomal change involves a fragment from one chromosome attaching to a nonhomologous chromosome?

Translocation refers to a specific type of chromosomal change where a fragment from one chromosome breaks off and attaches to a nonhomologous chromosome. This means that the segments involved are not from the same pair of chromosomes, making translocation distinct from other chromosomal modifications.

In the context of genetic makeup, translocations can have significant implications, sometimes leading to genetic disorders or contributing to certain types of cancers when the balance of genetic material is disrupted. Understanding translocation is crucial for recognizing how genetic information can be altered and how this alteration can influence an organism's traits and health.

The other types of chromosomal changes—duplication, inversion, and deletion—represent different alterations that do not involve the attachment of one chromosome's fragment to another nonhomologous chromosome. Duplication involves a region of DNA being copied and inserted back into the genome, while inversion refers to a segment of a chromosome being reversed end to end. Deletion signifies the loss of a chromosome segment. Each of these changes has its own specific mechanisms and consequences, but they differ fundamentally from translocation in terms of how they affect the chromosome structure and function.