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rscanner asked in Science & MathematicsBiology · 1 decade ago

Human Cells Divide 50 Times?

If human cells divide 50 times and then die, and a division occurs about once per day, why are we not dead in 50 days? Where do cells that can start the 50 time count come from?

I must be missing some detail here. Can you please explain?

Update:

I am referring to the Hayflick Limit.

4 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Most of your cells don't divide every day. Many of your cells will last for years. Differing cell lines will have differing limits. Check the link, the subject you're interested in is "Hayflick limit."

  • 1 decade ago

    The Hayflick limit doesn't apply to stem cells and non-differentiated cells. In humans the Hayflick limit is 52. But certain cells are excluded. Cancer cells also do not follow this limit but mostly because the have activated telomerase enzymes that repair telomere degeneration seen as the cause of the Hayflick limit.

  • 1 decade ago

    Well, whether or not human cells die after 50 divisions is true or not, there is a simple reason why we don't die at the end of a cell's life cycle. Each of the baby cells also starts to divide and the generations after take the place of the ones before.

  • 1 decade ago

    Where did you get they divide 50 times and die?

    After they divide the daughter cells start all over.

    Not all human cells are alike, and do not divide at the same rate.

    After differentiation, some can divide thousands of times and some never do.

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