Chromosome Instability

Chromosome instability is a phenomenon in which cells contain an abnormal number and/or structure of chromosomes resulting from uncleared DNA damage or defective DNA repair. Chromosome instability is a major contributing factor in most cancers, genetic diseases, and aging. It can also lead to aneuploidy, which is the gain or loss of entire chromosomes. Aneuploidy is associated with preimplantation embryonic death, birth defects, miscarriages, stillbirths, and a broad spectrum of diseases in newborns and adults. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of chromosome instability is essential for discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these diseases.