Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
12:04
Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy
Published on: June 24, 2019
Biophysics of mitosis.
J Richard McIntosh1, Maxim I Molodtsov, Fazly I Ataullakhanov
1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. richard.mcintosh@colorado.edu
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics
|February 11, 2012
Summary
This review explores the biophysics of mitosis, focusing on how microtubule-based cellular machinery precisely segregates chromosomes during cell division. It integrates experimental and theoretical work to illuminate this complex biological process.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mitosis is essential for eukaryotic cell division, involving precise chromosome segregation.
- A complex cellular machine, primarily microtubules (MTs) and associated proteins, executes mitosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mitosis literature from a biophysical perspective.
- To highlight the assembly and motility processes critical for accurate chromosome segregation.
- To provide biophysicists with a background for research in mitotic mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review integrating recent and older studies.
- Analysis of experimental data on mitotic events and mechanisms.
- Review of theoretical work on specific subprocesses of mitosis.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of the biophysical aspects of mitosis.
- Explanation of the roles of microtubule dynamics and motor proteins.
- Integration of experimental findings and theoretical models.
Conclusions:
- Mitosis is a biophysically fascinating process requiring precise molecular machinery.
- Understanding the assembly and motility of MTs is key to mitotic accuracy.
- This review serves as a foundation for further biophysical research into cell division.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
01:35Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
02:03Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
02:03Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
01:35Mitosis And Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...