A translocation between chromosomes 3 and 8, t(3;8)(p14.2;q24.13), has been reported in a family with hereditary renal cell carcinoma. Using somatic cell hybrids, we have isolated, separately, both derivative chromosomes. We find that the c-myc oncogene (8q24.1) has been translocated to the derivative 3 [der(3)]. We have not detected a rearrangement within an approximately equal to 21-kilobase region around the c-myc gene using restriction enzyme digestion and Southern blot hybridization analysis. The translocated c-myc gene should provide a probe to the chromosome 3p14 region, which appears to be important not only in renal cell carcinoma but also in small cell carcinoma of the lung. These hybrids have also been useful for the regional mapping of the Chinese hamster ovary cell Gly-B defect to 8q22.1----q24.13 and support the regional assignment of acylase I to 3p21.