by Jason Wasserman MD PhD FRCPC
May 26, 2022
Eukaryotic cells, including those in the human body, use a process called mitosis to divide and create new cells. An atypical mitosis is an abnormal dividing cell. As a result of this abnormal cell division, the newly created cells receive an unequal amount of genetic material (DNA) and are unable to function normally. Atypical mitoses are commonly seen in cancers; they are rarely seen in other conditions, such as tissue that has been exposed to radiation. Another name for an atypical mitosis is an atypical mitotic figure.