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Chromosome Structure and Function pp 53–74Cite as

Chromosomes and Kinetochores do More in Mitosis than Previously Thought

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Part of the book series: Stadler Genetics Symposia Series ((SGSS))

Abstract

Chromosomes do more to promote their own distribution to the daughter cells in mitosis than we thought. A role of chromosomes in their own movement was made clear in the 1930’s when it was recognized that a site on each chromosome — the kinetochore or centromere — is essential for normal chromosome movement in mitosis and meiosis (review: Schrader, 1953). Since then, one certain role of the kinetochore has been identified: the mechanical attachment of each chromosome to the spindle. Now, new aspects of attachment have been revealed as well as less expected chromosomal activities. My aim is an informal account of recent surprises followed by some remarks on the nature of the kinetochore as a gene and its evolutionary origin. More extensive reviews of all but the most recent work include Rieder (1982), McIntosh (1985), and Brinkley et al. (1985)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27706, USA

    R. Bruce Nicklas

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  1. R. Bruce Nicklas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    J. Perry Gustafson

  2. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia

    R. Appels

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© 1988 Plenum Press, New York

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Nicklas, R.B. (1988). Chromosomes and Kinetochores do More in Mitosis than Previously Thought. In: Gustafson, J.P., Appels, R. (eds) Chromosome Structure and Function. Stadler Genetics Symposia Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1037-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1037-2_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8304-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1037-2

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