A phase transition for chromosome transmission

Biophysics An analysis of chromosomes during mitotic cell division reveals that DNA and associated histone proteins condense through a process called phase transition, which helps them to resist the pushing forces involved in mitosis. [...]other microtubules make contact with the chromosome arms and push them in the opposite direction through a 'polar ejection' force (Fig. 1a)4. Future work combining sophisticated imaging techniques, computational modelling and a technique called Hi-C that captures information about chromosome conformation could shed light on the mechanism of loop formation required to make the rod-like shape of mitotic chromosomes.