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Related Concept Videos

Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

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During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis. 
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The Mitotic Spindle02:27

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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.
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Spindle Assembly02:50

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Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
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Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

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Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
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Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

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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.
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Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
10:52

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

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Forces positioning the mitotic spindle: Theories, and now experiments.

Hai-Yin Wu1,2, Ehssan Nazockdast3, Michael J Shelley3,4

  • 1Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|December 28, 2016
PubMed
Summary

New research directly measures forces positioning the mitotic spindle during cell division. Astral microtubules growing and pushing against the cell cortex generate these crucial forces.

Keywords:
force measurementmagnetic tweezersmicrotubulepronuclear migration and rotationspindlespindle positioning

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
10:52

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

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Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles
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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Spindle positioning is critical for accurate cell division.
  • The forces driving spindle positioning are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly measure the forces involved in mitotic spindle positioning.
  • To investigate the role of astral microtubules in generating these forces.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized magnetic tweezers for direct force measurements.
  • Combined experiments with molecular perturbations and geometrical analyses.

Main Results:

  • Provided the first direct measurements of forces in spindle positioning.
  • Data supports the hypothesis that growing astral microtubules push against the cell cortex.

Conclusions:

  • Growing astral microtubules are a key source of force for spindle positioning.
  • This study opens new avenues for understanding cell division mechanics.