Replicative senescence

Replicative senescence is the process by which cells permanently stop dividing after a certain number of divisions. As cells replicate over time, their chromosomes' ends, called telomeres, gradually shorten. When telomeres become too short, cells recognize this as damage and halt division to prevent potential errors, entering a state called senescence. This natural mechanism helps prevent damaged cells from becoming cancerous but also contributes to aging and tissue decline, as the ability for cells to renew themselves diminishes over time.