Hayflick Phenomenon

The Hayflick Phenomenon refers to the observation that normal human cells can only divide a limited number of times—typically around 40 to 60 divisions—before they stop dividing and enter a state called senescence. This limit is thought to be linked to the shortening of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, during each cell division. When telomeres become critically short, cells can no longer divide safely, which helps prevent unchecked growth but also contributes to aging and the natural decline in the body's regenerative capacity.