Gotta Keep Moving

Each coloured line here represents the path taken by a different bundle of DNA (known as a chromosome) during meiosis – the unique form of cell division that spawns sperm and egg cells. Each chromosome is dragged like a fish on a line around the inside edge of the cell nucleus by protein motors. On the left is the path taken by DNA in a healthy cell, the right in a cell whose motors have been disabled. During meiosis, chromosomes must match up with their complementary twin, so like singletons at a speed dating session they dart around in a frantic search. Without free movement the chromosomes in the cell on the right never got the chance to encounter their partner. Such mismatching can lead to major developmental problems, so revealing how chromosomes find each other is a high priority for scientists.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis

Writer

Ant was the web editor in the early days of BPoD, and has since worked with the UK’s top science organisations as a writer and multimedia producer. He now splits his time between freelance work and managing multimedia at The Lancet.

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• Enrique Martinez-Perez
• MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, UK
• Originally published under a Creative Commons Attribution license
• Published in PLoS genetics 9(5): e1003497