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Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...

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.

Karyotyping

Karyotyping

Cohesins

Cohesins

Cohesin protein complexes are a molecular glue that holds two sister chromatids together. They play an important role both in mitosis and meiosis. In mitosis, all cohesin complexes present on the chromosomes are removed before the start of the anaphase stage.
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of...

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying...

Chromosome Structure

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Generation and Isolation of Cell Cycle-arrested Cells with Complex Karyotypes

Generation and Isolation of Cell Cycle-arrested Cells with Complex Karyotypes

Published on: April 13, 2018

Chromosome instability syndromes.

A Malcolm R Taylor¹, Cynthia Rothblum-Oviatt², Nathan A Ellis³

¹Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. a.m.r.taylor@bham.ac.uk.

Nature Reviews. Disease Primers

|September 21, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Fanconi anaemia, ataxia telangiectasia, Nijmegen breakage syndrome, and Bloom syndrome are distinct chromosome instability disorders. Understanding their DNA repair defects is crucial for cancer predisposition insights and future early interventions.

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Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Generation and Isolation of Cell Cycle-arrested Cells with Complex Karyotypes

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Published on: April 13, 2018

Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH

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Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Published on: December 10, 2012

Area of Science:

Genetics and Molecular Biology
Oncology
Cell Biology

Background:

Fanconi anaemia (FA), ataxia telangiectasia (A-T), Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), and Bloom syndrome (BS) are distinct genetic disorders characterized by chromosome instability.
These syndromes exhibit unique patterns of chromosomal damage and hypersensitivity to genotoxic agents, suggesting diverse underlying molecular defects.
All four syndromes are associated with an increased predisposition to cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular and genetic basis of FA, A-T, NBS, and BS.
To elucidate the mechanisms of DNA double-strand break and interstrand crosslink repair.
To understand the role of DNA repair pathways in development and cancer predisposition.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of chromosomal damage patterns in patient-derived cells.
Investigation of cellular responses to genotoxic drugs.
Molecular and genetic studies to identify causative genes and pathways.
Clinical data analysis from specialist clinics.

Main Results:

Identified distinct patterns of chromosomal damage and drug hypersensitivity for each disorder.
Revealed insights into DNA repair mechanisms, including recognition and repair of DNA double-strand breaks and interstrand crosslinks.
Highlighted the predisposition to cancer in individuals with these syndromes and in carriers of certain gene mutations.

Conclusions:

The study deepens the understanding of DNA repair pathways and their implications in chromosome instability disorders.
Specialist clinics have improved management of clinical problems associated with FA, A-T, NBS, and BS.
Future advancements in early intervention and disease complication prevention depend on a comprehensive understanding of the affected DNA repair pathways in development and the cancer risks associated with carrier status.