Accurate segregation of duplicated chromosomes ensures that daughter cells get one and only one copy of each chromosome. Errors in chromosome segregation result in aneuploidy and have severe consequences on human health. Incorrect chromosome number and chromosomal instability are hallmarks of tumor cells. Hence, segregation errors are thought to be a major cause of tumorigenesis. A study of the physical mechanical basis of chromosome segregation is essential to understand the processes that can lead to errors. Tremendous progress has been made in recent years in identifying the proteins necessary for chromosome movement and segregation, but the mechanism and structure of critical force generating components and the molecular basis of centromere stiffness remain poorly understood.

中文翻译：

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有丝分裂纺锤体的设计特征：平衡出芽酵母中单个微管动粒界面的张力和压缩。

重复染色体的准确分离可确保子细胞获得每个染色体的一个且仅一个副本。染色体分离错误会导致非整倍性，并对人类健康造成严重后果。不正确的染色体数目和染色体不稳定性是肿瘤细胞的标志。因此，分离错误被认为是肿瘤发生的主要原因。研究染色体分离的物理机械基础对于理解可能导致错误的过程至关重要。近年来，在鉴定染色体运动和分离所必需的蛋白质方面取得了巨大进展，但对产生关键力的成分的机制和结构以及着丝粒刚度的分子基础仍知之甚少。