Figure 1.

Symmetric versus asymmetric abscission leads to different fates of the midbody. In abscission (left), cells release the postmitotic midbody into extracellular space. It can then be engulfed by one of the daughter cells or a cell in the surrounding area, lending to a potential mechanism for lateral transfer of information by the postmitotic midbody. In symmetric abscission, the postmitotic midbody is membrane bound. In asymmetric abscission, the process occurs on only one side of the midbody, leading to inheritance of the postmitotic midbody. This midbody is not membrane bound. Symmetric versus asymmetric abscission may be a cell type–specific phenomenon, and more work should be performed to fully answer this question.