The Liquid Crystal Logic of Cell Division
A study in PNAS proposes a new physical model for the human mitotic spindle, the cellular apparatus that separates chromosomes during division. The research frames the spindle as an active liquid crystal, a material that can flow like a liquid but whose constituent molecules are ordered like a crystal. This model helps explain how thousands of individual microtubule filaments, driven by molecular motors, collectively self-organize into the precise, dynamic structure necessary for accurate chromosome segregation, bridging the gap between discrete filament behavior and large-scale collective dynamics.
Why it might matter to you:
This work provides a fundamental biophysical framework for understanding how cellular structures achieve precise organization, a process that is critical for genomic stability. Failures in spindle assembly and chromosome segregation are directly linked to aneuploidy, a hallmark of aging, cancer, and reproductive issues. For researchers investigating cellular disruptions in fertility, this model offers a new lens through which to study how internal and external factors might destabilize these finely tuned physical systems.
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