Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Meiosis 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...

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Meiosis 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...

The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...

The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Plant kinesins: a bottom-up approach - from single molecules to function.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Same author

Single kinetochores execute an ordered series of molecular events as the spindle assembly checkpoint is silenced.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Bayesian data driven modelling of kinetochore dynamics: Space-time organisation of the human metaphase plate.

PLoS computational biology·2026

Same author

The kinesin Kip2 promotes microtubule growth using a bipartite polymerase module to deliver tubulin to microtubule plus ends.

Cell reports·2025

Same author

The tail domain of the plant kinesin-12 POK2 is a versatile interaction hub.

Journal of cell science·2025

Same author

Triggered contraction of self-assembled micron-scale DNA nanotube rings.

Nature communications·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

Exotic mitotic mechanisms.

Hauke Drechsler¹, Andrew D McAinsh

¹Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Division of Biomedical Cell Biology, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.

|December 29, 2012

Summary

Eukaryotic cells evolved unique mechanisms for chromosome segregation, involving membranes, nuclear pores, and kinetochores. Studying diverse mitotic strategies reveals fundamental principles of chromosome separation.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Eukaryotic cells present unique chromosome segregation challenges due to multiple, large, linear chromosomes and a nuclear envelope.
The nuclear envelope separates chromosomes from microtubule-organizing centers, necessitating specialized segregation machinery.

Purpose of the Study:

To review diverse solutions employed by eukaryotic cells for chromosome segregation.
To explore how non-canonical mitosis provides insights into segregation mechanics.
To examine the interplay between membranes, nuclear pores, and kinetochores in force generation during mitosis.

Main Methods:

Literature review of eukaryotic chromosome segregation.
Analysis of diverse mitotic strategies beyond "mainstream" mitosis.

More Related Videos

Techniques for Imaging Prometaphase and Metaphase of Meiosis I in Fixed Drosophila Oocytes

Techniques for Imaging Prometaphase and Metaphase of Meiosis I in Fixed Drosophila Oocytes

Published on: October 31, 2016

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Published on: May 14, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

Techniques for Imaging Prometaphase and Metaphase of Meiosis I in Fixed Drosophila Oocytes

Techniques for Imaging Prometaphase and Metaphase of Meiosis I in Fixed Drosophila Oocytes

Published on: October 31, 2016

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Published on: May 14, 2018

Discussion of functional and physical relationships between cellular components.

Main Results:

Eukaryotes utilize varied strategies to segregate chromosomes across the nuclear envelope.
Non-canonical mitosis offers valuable perspectives on chromosome segregation mechanics.
A strong link exists between membranes, nuclear pores, and kinetochores in driving segregation forces.

Conclusions:

Understanding diverse eukaryotic segregation mechanisms is crucial for cell biology.
The integration of membranes, nuclear pores, and kinetochores is key to successful chromosome segregation.
Studying evolutionary solutions to chromosome segregation illuminates fundamental cellular processes.