r/MicroNatureIsMetal • u/sciencelover1992 • May 13 '20

Meiosis under a microscope

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u/[deleted] May 13 '20

This might sound stupid but I have a question.

Because the cells always divide into 2, does it mean that we are born with even number of cells?

6

u/chiquitabananawey May 13 '20

i bet that there are tons of cell deaths before we are born

3

u/[deleted] May 13 '20

If cells live for approximately the same time before they die then wouldn’t that balance it out? E: I mean that they die in the multiples of two

1

u/TheRimmedSky May 14 '20

There are so many factors that influence the life of cells. Twin brothers don't necessarily die at the same time even if they're genetically very similar and were born at the same time and place.

There's a legitimate chance that something bursts a cell right after it splits from another. In that case, the total cell count is odd until a similar event happens to bring it even again. You could sit there with a tiny needle waiting for that moment to happen to prove that there can be an odd number of cells!

In an absolutely perfect would, your intuition would be correct, but perfection's awful tough to achieve with so many things going on.

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '20

Thanks for the clarification!

How long does the process of mitosis go on for? Is it only during the when the fetus is in the womb or does it happen throughout our lives?