How eggs sort and discard extra chromosomes during formation
Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division during female meiosis
This work looks at how egg cells move and discard most chromosomes so a single egg ends up with the correct set, which could help reduce missing or extra chromosome problems in pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327876 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, researchers use tiny roundworms (C. elegans) as a living model to watch how chromosomes and the cell’s machinery move during egg formation. They combine high-resolution imaging with genetic and molecular tools to track the meiotic spindle, cytoplasmic flows, and forces that push chromosomes into polar bodies. By identifying the proteins and movements that make asymmetric chromosome segregation reliable, they aim to find processes that, when broken in humans, lead to aneuploidy. The work is lab-based and focused on basic mechanisms that are conserved across animals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients directly; its findings would be most relevant to people with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss or pregnancies affected by chromosomal aneuploidy.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments, those whose infertility is caused by non-meiotic issues (for example, blocked fallopian tubes or male-factor infertility), or those expecting direct participation will not benefit directly from the lab work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to the cellular causes of miscarriages and chromosomal disorders and guide new diagnostic or preventive approaches for at-risk pregnancies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research in worms and other model systems has uncovered related spindle and chromosome behaviors, but applying these methods to the specific problem of asymmetric chromosome elimination represents a novel and deepening line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcnally, Francis J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Mcnally, Francis J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.