What It Takes to Build a Nuclear Membrane

In the cartoon depictions of cells we often see, the nucleus looks about as complicated as a balloon. It's drawn as a thin membrane bubble surrounding the chromosomes. The balloon pops when the cell divides, then the cell blows new balloons around each daughter cell's DNA. What could be simpler?

Authors in Current Biology give a reality check by describing in detail the structure of the nuclear membrane. It's mind-boggling how sophisticated it is -- and they don't even get into the most mind...