colchicine
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- An alkaloid, obtained from the autumn crocus Colchicum autumnale, which inhibits spindle formation. When applied during mitosis, chromosome s are unable to separate during anaphase. This property is used to achieve a doubling of the chromosome number. A further use is to halt mitosis at metaphase, the stage at which karyotypes are best viewed.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization - Cite This Source - This Definition - Centromere, diakinesis, diplonema, leptonema, metaphase, pachynema, prophase, segregation, spindle, univalent