Inertial force as a possible factor in mitosis.
Some previous studies of cell division have suggested that chromosome movements in mitosis involve two distinct forces: one which pulls chromosomes poleward by means of attached fibers, and another which tends to push chromosome arms away from the pole. The latter force may also be a factor in non-chromosomal spindle transport, by which objects other than chromosomes are transported toward or away from spindle poles. Based on a survey of previous literature, this paper makes a prima facie case for describing this latter force as "inertial", since in some respects it can be simulated by centrifugation. A theoretical analysis demonstrates that an inertial force could arise in the spindle from postulated high-frequency, small-amplitude oscillations, which could be caused by changes in coherently processing electron spin alignments at the spindle poles. Some possible experimental approaches to the problem are briefly outlined.
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology