Spindle assembly: asters part their separate ways. Rosenblatt, J. Nature Cell Biology March (2005) This Commentary focuses on two mechanisms that are used to position asters around chromosomes during mitosis with the aim of ensuring proper spindle assembly.

The Myc trilogy: lord of RNA polymerases. Trumpp, A. Nature Cell Biology March (2005) This News and Views discusses the recent revelation that the oncoprotein Myc can enhance rRNA synthesis by RNA polymerase (Pol) I in addition to controlling Pol II- and Pol III-regulated gene transcription.

Divide and conquer. Hengartner, M. Nature 17 February (2005) This News and Views piece discusses a recent report that implies a causative role for mitochondrial fragmentation in promoting apoptotic cell death from nematodes to mammals.

The centrosome in human genetic disease. Badano, J. L., Teslovitch, T. M. & Katsanis, N. Nature Reviews Genetics March (2005)

The role of apoptosis in cancer development and treatment response. Brown, J. M. & Attardi, L. D. Nature Reviews Cancer March (2005)

Induction and suppression of RNA silencing: insights from viral infections. Voinnet, O. Nature Reviews Genetics March (2005) This Review outlines how important insights into the mechanisms and evolution of regulatory and defensive RNA silencing have arisen by studying viral infections.

Regulation of plasma-cell development. Shapiro-Shelef, M. & Calame, K. Nature Reviews Immunology March (2005) This Review outlines the terminal differentiation of B cells into non-dividing plasma cells that make and secrete vast quantities of clonospecific antibody.

Alternatives to binary fission in bacteria. Angert, E. Nature Reviews Microbiology March (2005)

Expression and functions of neuronal gap junctions. Söhl, G., Maxeiner, S. & Willecke, K. Nature Reviews Neuroscience March (2005)

Detection and interpretation of altered methylation patterns in cancer cells. Ushijima, T. Nature Reviews Cancer March (2005) This Innovation article looks at the techniques that might be used to identify new tumour suppressors and diagnostic markers by identifying alterations in DNA-methylation patterns.

Molecular motors and mechanisms of directional transport in neurons. Hirokawa, N. & Takemura, R. Nature Reviews Neuroscience March (2005)