abstract:The Hayflick limit (or Hayflick phenomenon) is the number of times a normal human cell population will divide until cell division stops. Empirical evidence shows that the telomeres associated with each cell's DNA will get slightly shorter with each new cell division until they shorten to a critical length.
Dr Baker's results therefore support the previously untested hypothesis that not only do cells which are at the Hayflicklimit stop working well themselves, they also have malign effects (presumably through chemicals they secrete) on their otherwise healthy neighbours.
Existing lines of inquiry into prolonging lifespan are based either on removing the Hayflicklimit, which would have all sorts of untoward consequences, or suppressing production of the oxidative chemicals that are believed to cause much of the cellular damage which is bracketed together and labelled as senescence.