The maximum number of replications a cell can make before cell division stops. Specifically, it describes the point at which cells can no longer divide due to a shortening of telomeres – sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes. In 1958, Leonard Hayflick discovered that cells in culture would no longer grow following a certain number of divisions. He then conducted carefully controlled experiments to ensure that the cell death observed was not due to poor culturing conditions e.g., inappropriate growth mediaGrowth media, also known as culture media, provides cells in culture with all the correct nutrients. or technical errors. In 1961, Hayflick’s findings were published, challenging the view that cultured cells can replicate indefinitely given the right conditions. These findings also suggested that cells contained a cellular counting mechanism that keeps track of how many times it has divided.
