Chromosome (IMAGE)

DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Chromosome

Caption

The centromeres and kinetochores of a chromosome play critical roles during cell division. In mitosis, microtubule spindle fibers attach to the kinetochores, pulling the chromatids apart. A breakdown in this process causes chromosome instability. Researchers have linked the overexpression of centromere and kinetochore genes to cancer patient outcome after adjuvant therapies.

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Zosia Rostomian/Berkeley Lab

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