title: Are double minutes chromosomes?
abstract: Double minutes of a human breast cancer cell line revealed no centromeres by Cd banding. They cluster at the periphery of metaphase plates, usually encased in a matrix material. They move in anaphase passively with the chromosomes by attaching to the sides or ends of the chromosomes. The two "sister minutes" move to the same pole without separation. Such anomalous mitotic behavior suggests that double minutes are not chromosomes.
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase; D002503:Centromere; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002875:Chromosomes; D006801:Humans; D008677:Metaphase; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000648:ultrastructure