Why do some cells grow back very slowly?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sameeralord
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cells
AI Thread Summary
Nerve and muscle tissues have limited regenerative capabilities, often leading to replacement with fibrous scar tissue, while epithelial cells in the skin can regenerate rapidly after minor injuries. The discussion highlights evolutionary advantages, with Blob A thriving due to its ability to quickly regrow skin cells, while Blob B's potential to regenerate spinal cells became irrelevant after severe injury. The complexity and specialization of certain cells may hinder their ability to undergo mitosis and regenerate effectively. The role of stem cells in regeneration is noted, as they can provide a foundation for rebuilding specialized tissues. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the varying regenerative capacities across different tissue types and their evolutionary implications.
sameeralord
Messages
659
Reaction score
3
Nerve and muscle tissue don't grow back much but epithelial cells in the skin grow very quickly. Why is that some tissues find it difficult to grow back and are replaced by fibrous scar tissue. Can't they do some mitosis and regrow? Thank you :smile:
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Evolution.

Blob A could grow back skin cells quickly after a minor scratch, lived to reproduce and spread the ability to all the little baby blobs.

Blob B had the ability to regrow spinal column cells, unfortunately the nerve damage was due to being bitten in half by big nasty blob C so the ability was no advantage.
 
mgb_phys said:
Evolution.

Blob A could grow back skin cells quickly after a minor scratch, lived to reproduce and spread the ability to all the little baby blobs.

Blob B had the ability to regrow spinal column cells, unfortunately the nerve damage was due to being bitten in half by big nasty blob C so the ability was no advantage.

Interesting but I have another opinion as well. May be because these cells are so specialized you can't directly reproduce them. Like a person with a lot of experience you can't just clone him but get experience from starting from square one. Stem cells can be used to start from square one.

Anyway your idea seems right as well. :smile:
 
Olfactory neurons are continuously replaced throughout human life.
 
I've been reading a bunch of articles in this month's Scientific American on Alzheimer's and ran across this article in a web feed that I subscribe to. The SA articles that I've read so far have touched on issues with the blood-brain barrier but this appears to be a novel approach to the problem - fix the exit ramp and the brain clears out the plaques. https://www.sciencealert.com/new-alzheimers-treatment-clears-plaques-from-brains-of-mice-within-hours The original paper: Rapid amyloid-β...
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-deadliest-spider-in-the-world-ends-lives-in-hours-but-its-venom-may-inspire-medical-miracles-48107 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versutoxin#Mechanism_behind_Neurotoxic_Properties https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028390817301557 (subscription or purchase requred) The structure of versutoxin (δ-atracotoxin-Hv1) provides insights into the binding of site 3 neurotoxins to the voltage-gated sodium channel...

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
24
Views
6K
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
27K
Back
Top