Genlokation

Genlokation, or gene location, is the chromosomal position of a gene or genetic element within the genome. In English literature the term is often rendered as gene locus or genomic location. The location can be described in two primary ways: by cytogenetic bands that indicate a region on a chromosome (for example 17q21.31, which refers to the long arm of chromosome 17) and by precise base‑pair coordinates on a reference genome (for example chr17:43,042,295-43,125,483 on GRCh38).

Determining genlokation relies on genetic mapping and sequence-based annotation. Historically, linkage analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization helped identify approximate regions, while modern methods use whole-genome sequencing and physical mapping to assign exact coordinates. Public databases and browsers such as Ensembl, the UCSC Genome Browser, and NCBI Gene provide standardized coordinates for genes and transcripts, often updated with new genome assemblies (for example GRCh38 or hg19).

Genlokation is important for research and clinical genetics. It facilitates understanding of disease loci, informs experimental design (primer and probe placement), and supports comparative genomics and variant interpretation. A single gene has a defined locus, though some traits exhibit locus or genetic heterogeneity where different genes can cause similar phenotypes. Loci are also used to describe chromosomal rearrangements and to compare gene positioning across species.

Examples include BRCA1 located at 17q21.31 and CFTR at 7q31.2. In German-language contexts the term Genlokation is commonly used; in English, gene locus or genomic location is standard.