Micronucleus

Micronucleus is a small nucleus that forms whenever a chromosome or a fragment of a chromosome is not incorporated into one of the daughter nuclei during cell division. It is an extra nucleus that contains the genetic material left behind from a normal cell division. Micronuclei are a type of nuclear anomaly found in eukaryotic cells.

Formation

Micronuclei form during cell division when a chromosome or a fragment of a chromosome fails to incorporate into one of the daughter nuclei. This can occur as a result of chromosome breakage or chromosome mis-segregation. The unincorporated genetic material forms a small, separate nucleus within the cell, known as a micronucleus.

Detection

Micronuclei can be detected using various techniques, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), flow cytometry, and microscopy. These techniques allow for the visualization and quantification of micronuclei in cells.

Clinical significance

The presence of micronuclei in cells is often used as a biomarker for genotoxicity and carcinogenesis. Increased levels of micronuclei are associated with a higher risk of cancer and other diseases. Therefore, the detection of micronuclei can be used in the early diagnosis of these diseases.

See also

• Biomarker
• Genotoxicity
• Carcinogenesis

References

Micronucleus Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski