17q232

17q23.2 is a cytogenetic band on the long arm (q) of human chromosome 17. The designation refers to a specific region within 17q, and the exact base-pair coordinates vary between genome assemblies (for example GRCh37/hg19 and GRCh38/hg38). As a chromosomal locus, 17q23.2 encompasses multiple genes and regulatory elements that contribute to the region’s genomic complexity.

The region is of interest in genomics because it can harbor structural variations, including deletions and duplications, that affect gene dosage and regulation. Such copy-number variations (CNVs) and rearrangements can be detected in normal variation, disease research, and cancer genomics, where alterations in 17q23.2 have been reported in some tumor samples. The clinical impact of CNVs in this locus is variable and often depends on the specific genes involved and the broader genomic context.

Technologies used to study 17q23.2 include fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, which can identify CNVs and other rearrangements at this locus with increasing resolution.

Research and clinical interest in 17q23.2 continue as part of broader efforts to map structural variation on chromosome 17 and to understand how such variants contribute to development, disease, and cancer. As with many genomic regions, the significance of alterations in 17q23.2 is nuanced and relies on integrated genomic and phenotypic information.

See also: Chromosome 17, Cytogenetics, Copy-number variation.