For a living cell to divide successfully, each daughter cell must inherit the correct genetic material. In eukaryotes, segregation of duplicated chromosomes is performed by the mitotic spindle, a ...

Among the many marvels of life is the cell's ability to divide and thus enable organisms to grow and renew themselves. For this, the cell must duplicate its DNA—its genome—and segregate it equally ...

As the cell proceeds through the stages of cell division (from left to right: interphase, prometaphase, metaphase, and anaphase), chromosomes become progressively more compact through a combination of ...

Three RIKEN researchers have shed light on the cellular mechanisms underlying chromosomal abnormalities that can cause miscarriages and congenital disorders such as Down syndrome. These abnormalities ...

Structure of Ndc80 complex bound to microtubule. Ndc80 complex is the major microtubule3binding module at the kinetochore. Green: α-tubulin, light-blue:β-tubulin, dark blue: HEC1 (a4subunit of the ...

Two studies now shed light on how chromosomes that undergo catastrophic shattering are transmitted to daughter cells during cell division, thereby enabling them to be reassembled for the benefit of ...

Human DNA, which is approximately two meters in length, is organized into a compact, thread-like structure known as the chromatin, so it could fit into the nucleus, a tiny sphere that’s only about six ...

Human cells have two copies of each chromosome, and this balance is essential for genes to be expressed in the appropriate proportions and for cells to function correctly. When errors occur during ...