Scientists have believed since long that chromosomes do not have active involvement in cell division processes called cytokinesis. However, it has been revealed in some recent experiments conducted by researchers that they are actively involved in separating and dividing the living cells.

Scientists are saying that it is a step forward in both medical and biology fields since they revealed an important mechanism of life process, which is very basic.

The findings have been published by its Canadian and British authors of the study in the journal Nature. According to Dr. Gilles Hickson, co-author of the study and professor at the University of Montreal in Canada, researchers have been making efforts to understand cell division for over 100 years, however the molecular mechanism associated with the process still has much to be revealed.

Prof. Hickson added that it is significant for the reason that cell division is central to life, in addition to specific diseases.

Mitosis occurs in cell division in animals. In mitosis, chromosomes get separated and the cell divides into two new daughter cells by cytokinesis. There are microscopic structures called microtubules that play role in bringing chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell, when the cell division occurs.

According to Gilles Hickson, an assistant professor at the University of Montreal's Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, "At this time, microtubules physically separate the chromosomes via their central kinetochores while other microtubules signal to the cortex of the cell where its equator is, i. e., where division will take place".