It’s no secret that our cells divide in order to grow, repair, and reproduce. But how exactly do they go about this process? Scientists have now discovered a new mechanism that helps explain how DNA is segregated during cell division, potentially unlocking new ways to control and manipulate the process.

The new research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how a protein called “topoisomerase 3a” helps to separate the strands of DNA during cell division. The protein works by breaking and rejoining the DNA strands, which helps to untangle them and prepare them for segregation. The team also found that the protein is essential for the process, as cells that lacked the protein were unable to divide properly.

The findings could lead to new treatments and therapies for diseases related to abnormal cell division, such as some forms of cancer and infertility. It could also improve our understanding of how cells divide and grow, which could be used to create better treatments for a variety of conditions.

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source: Phys.org