Errors in Mitosis:

1. Chromosomes may fail to separate:

Although errors in mitosis are rare the process may go wrong, especially during the cell divisions in the zygote. For Example, during the anaphase of mitosis, a chromosome may fail to separate. One daughter cell will receive both sister chromosomes and the other will receive none.

1. Damaging of chromosomes;

Occasionally, chromosomes may be damaged during mitosis. An arm of the chromosome may be broken or maybe incorrectly reattach to another or the original chromosome, but in reverse orientation.

Errors in control of mitosis may cause cancer. All cells have genes that control the number and timing of mitosis. Sometimes, a mutation occurs in that genes and the cells continue to divide. It results in the growth of abnormal cells called tumors. As long as these tumors remain in their original location, they are called benign. But if they invade other tissues, they are called malignant (cancerous) and their cells are called cancer cells. Such tumors can send their cancer cells to other parts of the body where new tumors may form. This phenomenon is called metastasis 9spreading of disease).