HOW CELLS GET THE RIGHT CHROMOSOMES

When cells divide, the chromosomes must be delivered flawlessly to the daughter cells. Missing or extra chromosomes can result in birth defe cts and cancer. Chance events are the starting point for chromosome de livery, which makes the process prone to error, Errors are avoided by diverse uses of mechanical tension from mitotic forces. Tension stabil izes the proper chromosome configuration, controls a cell cycle checkp oint, and changes chromosome chemistry.