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AAT Bioquest

Do all cells go through the process of growth and repair?

Posted January 30, 2024


Answer

All cells do not go through the process of growth and repair. Highly specialized cells, like mature nerve cells (neurons) and skeletal muscle cells have limited or no ability to divide and repair themselves after injury. Thus, once these cells reach maturity, they may lose their ability to undergo mitosis. For example, because neurons are highly specialized and generate a complex network, adding new nerve cells could potentially disrupt their established pathways. This disruption may affect muscle coordination and the effectiveness of communication essential for the nervous system. One example of cells which go through the process of growth and repair include basal cells in the epidermis. These cells constantly divide via mitosis to generate old or damaged skin cells. 

Additional resources

Mitosis, Meiosis, and Inheritance

Cell Proliferation Assays

Cell Navigator® CDy6 Mitosis Imaging Kit

Cell Meter™ Fluorimetric Live Cell Cycle Assay Kit *Green Fluorescence Optimized for Flow Cytometry*