At the ending of our DNA there is a bit that holds it together called 'telomere'. It's like this plastic thing at the end of shoelace. When cell multiplies, the bit gets shorter and when it's too short the cell dies. It acts like a clock, allowing only certain amount of multiplications.
There are some animals that can regenerate it, but in humans a cell that doesn't die becomes cancerous. Cancer is not fun.
Fun fact: scientists managed to take cancer cells (google HeLa cell line for more info) from a patient and breed them in a lab. Patient died in 1950's, but the cancer is still alive and is used in drug research. It is considered immortal.
There are some animals that can regenerate it, but in humans a cell that doesn't die becomes cancerous. Cancer is not fun.
Fun fact: scientists managed to take cancer cells (google HeLa cell line for more info) from a patient and breed them in a lab. Patient died in 1950's, but the cancer is still alive and is used in drug research. It is considered immortal.
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