Chromosomal Instability

Chromosomal instability (CIN) refers to an increased tendency of a cell's chromosomes to undergo abnormal changes, such as missing, extra, or rearranged chromosomes during cell division. This instability can lead to genetic diversity within a tumor, promoting cancer progression and resistance to treatments. Essentially, CIN causes errors in how genetic material is copied and divided, resulting in cells with abnormal chromosomes. While some level of variation is normal, persistent chromosomal instability can contribute to the development and worsening of diseases like cancer by disrupting the normal balance of genetic information.