In this review, we focus on a new type of chromosomal abnormality called “chromoanagenesis” which is characterized by multiple chromosome breaks, deletions and/or duplications. The main features of the three chromoanagenesis subtypes – chromothripsis, chromoanasynthesis and chromoplexia – are discussed in detail. The issues of the causes, molecular mechanisms and consequences of chromoanagenesis in human germ cells, zygotes and blastomeres are addressed.