The role of spindle fibres attached to centromeres in the separation of chromatids
During cell division, protein fibres called spindle fibres attach to chromosomes and pull the two identical copies apart. Each copy moves to opposite ends of the cell.
Real World
The chemotherapy drug vincristine, derived from the periwinkle plant and used to treat leukaemia, prevents tubulin from polymerising into spindle fibres — so chromatids cannot be pulled apart and cancer cells are halted in mitosis.
Exam Focus
Clarify that spindle fibres attach to centromeres (not chromosomes generally) and pull sister chromatids to opposite poles — both details are mark-scheme targets.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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