Neocentromeres
Centromeres are essential for chromosome inheritance and genome stability. Centromeres are defined by repetitive DNA and centromeric proteins, including the centromeric histone centromere protein A (CENP-A), define the site of centromeric chromatin and kinetochore assembly. Neocentromeres are rare human chromosomal aberrations where a new centromere has formed in a previously non-centromeric location and there are new sites of assembly of functional kinetochores at ectopic loci. Evolutionary new centromeres are important steps in specification that involve centromere repositioning events that become fixed in the population. In this review the importance of neocentromeres to human health and chromosome evolution are discussed.