By my calculations, if there are 10 billion cells in the body, then the origional fertalized egg must divide, and then each of the 2 divide etc. But only 35 or so generations should be sufficient to produce 10 billion cells. Averaging pregnancy at 270 days, each cell generation must double itself around every 10 days. This to me seems to be wrong, Anything i am not taking into account?
2006-06-21 06:29:12 · 4 answers · asked by Wayne Woj 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
I have looked around some more, and basing that a baby may have 100 trillion cells in its body it would take 48 cell divisions if every cell were dividing at the same time. Im not as concerned with what cells do, or what happens, just how many times the origional cell would need to divide in order to supply ENOUGH cells for a human body. And then i would like to take an average rate of cell division. Even if its not accurate to whats actually happening, i am just wondering. As far as that goes, 2^46 is a pretty large number (70,368,744,177,664) or about 70 trillion. So my guess is that the original cell would have to divide around 47 times to mathematically produce enough cells to make a human being. Averaging 270 days to a pregnancy, that equals out to about 1 generation of cell divisions every 6 days. Of course this is not accurate unless your only lookin at the number of cells and not how the human is formed.
2006-06-21 06:45:27 · update #1
The first cell "must" divide only once but "may" divide almost without end during the life of a creature. When the first cell divides its DNA splits like cutting the rungs of several (helical) ladders (genes) and each ladder half then regenerates its missing half in the new cells. After the split, which is the original cell? If one of the two "new" cells died prematurely, the remaining cell would likely carry on. After only a few cell divisions, cells differentiate and become specialized and no longer are capable of producing all the tissue types required. The original cell is lost for practical purposes.
2006-06-21 07:21:15 · answer #1 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cells divide very quickly during the first 10 days or so then slow down after that.
2006-06-21 13:34:08 · answer #2 · answered by kmclean48 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you are assuming that fission is spontaneous which it is not. Also after the foetus does develop, it is still not ready to come out as it lacks proper nourishment and an immune system.
2006-06-21 13:34:30 · answer #3 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends
but a good estimate is 2 to the 270th power
2006-06-21 13:32:56 · answer #4 · answered by dvt93 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋