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From: George Hammond <ghammond@mediaone.net>
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Subject: Formation of Metaphase plate in Mitosis?
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Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 07:31:49 GMT
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[Hammond]
  I am a physicist, not a biologist, so excuse my
elementary views in this area.
  I understand that during metaphase in mitosis, that
the chromosomes (DNA molecules) align themselves in the
"metaphase plate" which is the future cleavage plane
of the cell.
  Can anyone tell me some more details of this alignment?
For instance:

	1. Do the chromosomes lie in the plane, or 
           perpendicular to the plane?
	2. Are they randomly oriented in the plane,
           or do they all point in the same direction?
	3. At what point do they become attached to the
           microtubules (spindles) so that the whole
           assembly forms a rigid mechanical structure?
	4. Are the chromosomes arranged into diploid "pairs"
           during this alignment, or as 46 individual
           randomly positioned chromosomes, in the plane?
  	5. Any "geometrical" or "mechanical-configurational"
           observations would be of extreme interest.

  Thanks in advance, George Hammond
-- 
BE SURE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE, BELOW:
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George Hammond, M.S. Physics
Email:    ghammond@mediaone.net
Website:  http://people.ne.mediaone.net/ghammond/index.html
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