Most nerve cells in the adult human central nervous system, as well as heart muscle cells, do not divide. In contrast, cells lining the inside of the small intestine divide frequently. Discuss this difference in terms of why damage to the nervous system and heart muscle cells (for example, that caused by a stroke or heart attack) is so dangerous. What do you think might happen to tissues such as the intestinal lining if a disorder blocked mitotic cell division in all cells of the body?
To discuss:
The reason why the damage to nervous system or heart muscle cells is so dangerous and things that will happen if the mitotic cell division of the cells lining the intestine is blocked.
Introduction:
The cell division involves a series of events which leads to the formation of daughter cells from the parent. There are two different types of the process through which the cell division can take place, namely- mitosis and meiosis.
Explanation of Solution
The nerve cells in the human adult central nervous system do not divide. The reason is unknown; however, it has been studied that molecular mechanisms might be involved that inhibit the outgrowth of axons. The local environment of the brain restricts the extensions of growth cones. Similarly, the heart cells do not divide. The myocytes or the heart cells actively perform functions and hence do not enter the cell cycle. Damage to nervous system cells and heart cells is dangerous because the damage cannot be repaired through the cell division of cells.
If somehow, the mitotic division of the cells of the intestine and the cells of the body is blocked, then the cells will not be replaced. Since, the cells lining the intestine divide frequently, the blocking of mitosis will have severe effects on the intestine. Cells lying inner to the intestinal layer would become exposed and they would also be damaged. The cells which divide frequently will be affected first.
Damage to nervous system and heart muscle cells would result in serious complications as the damage will not be repaired. If the mitosis of the intestinal lining cells will be blocked, the inner layer of cells will also get damaged as the intestinal layer divide frequently. The cells which divide more frequently will be affected first.
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Chapter 9 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
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