Cell division

A metazoan cell division cycle starts with DNA condensation and continues to the completion of cytokinesis with the creation of an independent daughter cell. In C. elegans, mitotic cell divisions are rapid, taking approximately 14 minutes, and follow patterns that are invariant from animal to animal. C. elegans is one animal were the pattern of cell division is the primary determinant of cell fate. Extensive research of cell division in C. elegans has elucidated many genes involved in the genetic and molecular pathways required for setting up cell determination and specification during development. These studies demonstrate a role for these genes in one or many steps of cell division such as in nuclear envelope assembly/disassembly, centrosome dynamics, formation of the mitotic spindle, kinetochore assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis.