How Cells Copy DNA Might Matter More Than We Ever Realized

Researchers found that two routes to whole-genome duplication lead to different outcomes for cells.

Cytokinesis failure produced more stable, viable cells, while mitotic slippage caused uneven chromosome inheritance and lower survival.

When chromosome separation was improved, cells from mitotic slippage regained viability.

The study suggests genome-duplication errors are not all the same and may help explain cancer cell survival.