micronucleus
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Article
7 sectionsContents
- Discovery
- Formation
- Identification
- Assays
- Patterns in formation
- See also
- References
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A micronucleus is a small nucleus that forms whenever a chromosome or a fragment of a chromosome is not incorporated into one of the daughter nuclei during cell division. It usually is a sign of genotoxic events and chromosomal instability. Micronuclei are commonly seen in cancerous cells and may indicate genomic damage events that can increase the risk of developmental or degenerative diseases.