Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Chromosome banding
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Chromosome banding: The treatment of chromosomes to reveal characteristic patterns of horizontal bands like bar codes.
The banding patterns lend each chromosome a distinctive appearance so the 22 pairs of human nonsex chromosomes and the X and Y chromosomes can be identified and distinguished without ambiguity. Banding also permits the recognition of chromosome deletions (lost segments), chromosome duplications (surplus segments) and other types of structural rearrangements of chromosomes.