Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

ihaveredhaironmyhead OP t1_j3ninx3 wrote

Reply to comment by CrateDane in How does the spindle apparatus know what to do during cell division? by ihaveredhaironmyhead

This is a great description of what happens, but where are the instructions for all of this located? It's been explained to me that it's nothing but molecules bumping into each other but it sounds so complex it's hard to understand that.

1

CrateDane t1_j3nkpyz wrote

The information is stored in DNA. Proteins are made based on the DNA sequence, and the shape of those proteins dictates their function. Like how tubulin makes microtubules and so on.

1

ihaveredhaironmyhead OP t1_j3nle7c wrote

So the shape of the centromeres dictates they behave in this complex manner of arrangement? Is it like a child's toy where squares fit into squares and circles fit into circles? I still struggle to understand how this can happen with zero guidance from a brain. It's just the shape of the molecules? What you described they do is so complicated.

1

CrateDane t1_j3np57m wrote

> Is it like a child's toy where squares fit into squares and circles fit into circles?

That's pretty much how it works for putting things together. When the proteins have to do more, they have to change shape. But that still depends on how they're put together, they're like little machines with like springs, levers etc.

1