Researchers in the University of Georgias Regenerative Bioscience Center are visually capturing the first process of chromosome1 alignment2 and separation at the beginning of mouse development. The findings could lead to answers to questions concerning the mechanisms3 leading to birth defects and chromosome instability in cancer cells. Weve generated a model that is unique in the world, said Rabindranath De La Fuente, an associate professor in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Because we removed ATRX protein expression only in the oocyte, the female egg cell, we can now study its function at both the cellular4 and molecular5 level.ATRX is a protein that binds6 to the centromere of all chromosomes7 in every single cell of the body, but when it malfunctions8, chromosomes cannot segregate9 properly and lose their structural10 integrity. Using the ATRX protein, the researchers developed a mouse model to learn how an embryo11 responds to abnormal chromosome segregation12.In the study, published recently in the journal Development, De La Fuente and assistant professor Maria Viveiros, both in the colleges department of physiology13 and pharmacology, have established that stability of a specialized14 chromosomal15 domain16 in an early embryo is absolutely vital for subsequent development and health.The future goal of this study is to learn about the mechanisms of chromosomal defects, helping17 to someday reduce the risk of chromosome instability and increase prevention through improving early prenatal care.There is an urgent need to develop additional non-invasive strategies concerning maternal18 health, Viveiros said, pointing out the classic example of how folic acid significantly reduced the risk of spina bifida by the simple recommendation of taking a daily dose of the vitamin folic acid before and during pregnancy19.With our unique model, by deleting the protein strictly20 in the female egg, we can begin to understand how maternal proteins help regulate these initial cell divisions during early development.
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1 chromosome n.染色体 参考例句： Chromosome material with exhibits of such behaviour is called heterochromatin.表现这种现象的染色体物质叫做异染色质。 A segment of the chromosome may become lost,resulting in a deletion.染色体的一个片段或许会丢失，结果产生染色体的缺失。
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