Perspective
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 1, 72-76 (October 2000) | doi:10.1038/35036093
Timeline: Hayflick, his limit, and cellular ageing
Jerry W. Shay1 & Woodring E. Wright1 About the authors
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Abstract
Almost 40 years ago, Leonard Hayflick discovered that cultured normal human cells have limited capacity to divide, after which they become senescent — a phenomenon now known as the 'Hayflick limit'. Hayflick's findings were strongly challenged at the time, and continue to be questioned in a few circles, but his achievements have enabled others to make considerable progress towards understanding and manipulating the molecular mechanisms of ageing.
Author affiliations
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Cell Biology, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard , Dallas, Texas 75390-9039, USA.
Correspondence to: Email: shay@utsw.swmed.edu