Applied Physics Colloquia

The spindle is a complex assembly of microtubules, motors, and other associated proteins, which segregates chromosomes during cell

division. In metaphase, the spindle exists in a steady-state with a constant flux of molecules and energy continuously modifying and

maintaining its architecture.  While many of the individual components of the spindle have been studied in detail, it is still unclear how

these molecular constituents self-organize into this structure. I will present our work on the use of quantitative experiments and theory to characterize the constituents of the spindle in situ and to understand how their collective behaviors give rise to the assembly, morphology, and dynamics of the spindle.