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Can a cell die without reproducing?
Question Date: 2017-01-25
Answer 1:

Yes - lots of cells die without reproducing, and that's a good thing, because otherwise there would be way too many cells. Also, there would not be enough food or energy to feel all the cells.


Answer 2:

Yes, a cell can die without reproducing. If a cell is harmful then it will under apoptosis (cell death) instead of reproducing to prevent the harmful genetic material from being passed onto the next cell. Also, it is common for extra cells to be produced and only the most functional ones will survive and reproduce.


Answer 3:

Yes. If cells could not die without reproducing, then it would be impossible for life-forms made up of cells to die. Being human, you are going to die some day yourself, and when you do, it will be because the cells that make up your body will die without reproducing.


Answer 4:

Yes, a cell can die without reproducing. The process is called apoptosis! Apoptosis is programmed cell death in response to various changes that happen in the cell. This type of cell stress could be things like shell shrinkage, broken up DNA, or RNA decay. In fact, in a child between the ages of 8 and 14, 20 to 30 billion cells die each day! Pictures of apoptosis actually look pretty cool. The cell explodes from a nice, round sphere into a cloud-like shape.



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