Figure 1.

Chromosome mis-segregation causes DNA damage. (A) Precise chromosome segregation leads to the equal partitioning of the genome and the generation of two euploid daughter cells with diploid karyotype (illustrated as 2N). (B) Defective chromosome segregation can have multiple fates. Chromosomes can be trapped in the cytokinetic furrow and break during cytokinesis (top). Alternatively, chromosomes can mis-segregate and form micronuclei (middle), or they can be accurately segregated in nucleus/micronucleus in the daughter cells (bottom). Irrespective of how micronuclei are generated, their DNA is significantly damaged and elicits a DNA damage response.