Peer-Reviewed Publication
Nat Commun2026June 3, 2026Journal Article
Asymmetric attrition and secondary chromosome destabilization after double-strand breaks in human embryonic development.
Jenna Turocy1, Stepan Jerabek2,3, Woonyung Hur3, Jimin Kim2, Shuangyi Xu2, Qiaojin Zhao4, Jia Xu5, Alex Robles1, Xiangyi Liu2, Nathan Treff5,6, Diego Marin5,7, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis3, Dieter Egli8,9
1Columbia University Fertility Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
2Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
3Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
4Masters of Biotechnology Program, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
5Genomic Prediction Inc., Brunswick, NJ, USA.
6Nucleus Genomics, New York, NY, USA.
7Department of Human Genetics. Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
8Columbia University Fertility Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. de2220@cumc.columbia.edu.
9Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. de2220@cumc.columbia.edu.
Abstract
DNA repair in human embryos is poorly understood, and double-strand breaks (DSBs) can cause chromosome loss. We show that chromosomal alterations relative to an induced DSB are asymmetric: acentric arms show complementary gains and losses, while centric arms are biased toward losses. Centromeric to the cut site secondary breakage and attrition is extensive. In contrast, break sites at acentric arm…
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