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Related Concept Videos

The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

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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.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures...
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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.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a...
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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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Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

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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.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
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The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

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The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
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Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

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The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
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Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

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Mitotic spindle: lessons from theoretical modeling.

Iva M Tolić1, Nenad Pavin2

  • 1Division of Molecular Biology, Rud¯er Boškovic´ Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

Molecular Biology of the Cell
|January 28, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Theoretical modeling aids cell biology by quantitatively testing hypotheses and predicting outcomes. Combining experimental data with theoretical models, particularly in mitotic spindle mechanics, refines our understanding of complex cellular processes.

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Last Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
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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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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Cellular systems are highly complex with numerous interactions and redundant pathways.
  • Extracting coherent insights from large experimental datasets can be challenging.
  • Theoretical modeling offers a quantitative approach to formulate and test hypotheses in cell biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the utility of theoretical modeling in understanding complex biological systems.
  • To illustrate the synergy between experimental data and theoretical frameworks.
  • To discuss the iterative process of hypothesis refinement through modeling and experimentation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing theoretical modeling to formulate quantitative hypotheses.
  • Integrating experimental data with computational models.
  • Focusing on the field of mitotic spindle mechanics as a case study.

Main Results:

  • Theoretical models can reproduce key features of biological systems.
  • Models provide testable predictions that guide future experiments.
  • Discrepancies between models and experiments are crucial for revising hypotheses.

Conclusions:

  • Combining theory and experiment accelerates the discovery of underlying cellular mechanisms.
  • Theoretical modeling is indispensable for dissecting complex biological processes like mitotic spindle dynamics.
  • Iterative refinement of hypotheses based on modeling and experimental feedback is key to advancing cell biology.