Non-random segregation of sister chromosomes in Escherichia coli

When a bacterial cell replicates its circular genome, one chromosome is synthesized continuously (the leading strand) and the other discontinuously (the lagging strand). Previous studies suggested that this difference may dictate where the chromosome locates during cell division, but direct evidence for this model was lacking. White et al. have devised a system to allow them to track each strand, and they find that the two copies of the chromosome are sent to different cellular destinations. The leading strand is sent to the cell pole and the lagging strand to the centre of the cell. These results are also relevant to the immortal strand hypothesis being debated in the stem cell community.