Segregating chromosomes during early mammalian development Seminar

Errors in chromosome segregation in oocytes and early embryos lead to embryo aneuploidy, which contributes to early pregnancy loss. At the heart of chromosome segregation is the spindle, a dynamic biomechanical machine fashioned from microtubules, which is tasked with gathering and sorting chromosomes and dispatching them to the daughter cells at the time of cell division. Understanding the causes of segregation error in the oocyte and early embryo will undoubtedly hinge on a thorough understanding of the mechanism of spindle assembly and function in these highly specialized cellular environments. Here I will describe recent work from our lab that highlights idiosyncrasies of chromosome segregation in the mammalian oocyte and early embryo, and discuss possible mechanisms by which chromosome segregation might go awry in these cells.