Chromosome segregation (mitosis and meiosis) is one of the most fascinating biological processes known. Chromosomes are segregated by a conserved machine called the mitotic spindle, a microtubule-based structure that captures chromosomes and guides them to opposite poles. The spindle microtubules connect to chromosomes at the proteinaceous kinetochores and uses a system of “checkpoints” and error-correction mechanisms to ensure that each daughter cell receives exactly one set of chromosomes. Unfortunately, chromosome mis-segregation does occasionally happen, resulting in birth defects and cancer progression
