Theory:Rapid cell regeneration

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The following fan theories are about rapid cell regeneration.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
This power depends of the individual self-image. It heals the person using it to what they think they should like.	None.	+ All powers come from the brain. • This has not been proven in the show. + Claire's hair also "regenerates" when she is burned by Ted's power. - This is probably because they can't cut the actress's hair. • They can make a 100% burnt Claire digitally, so they probably could have done a hairless Claire pretty easily. The brain restores the body to its last known healthy form, which is WITH the hair. + Peter's tattoo vanishes minutes after is made. - Tattoos are essentially made by wounding the body, thus leading to regeneration. + Claire's hair seems to grow back, but Peter very obviously has gotten a haircut.
This power creates the matter necessary for new body parts to grow.	None.	+ Growth needs matter, which would usually be taken from the body, leading to weight loss, and yet none of the known evolved humans with this power displayed this. - Maybe the wounds aren't big enough to be noticed by the body. + Peter loses a great deal of blood in Homecoming with no adverse side effects. • While it is explained as an overload of powers, Peter did become sick shortly after that incident, which could indicate that matter was appropriated from various organs (albeit not enough to have an immediate loss of health) in order to create enough blood for him to survive. • If that's the case, then the power would break one of the main rule of physics (that matter cannot be created, only transformed). + Matter can be created from energy. One of the founding principles of modern physics is Einstein's formula equating energy and matter: e=mc^2 (energy equals mass multiplied by the speed of light squared). Granted: it's absurd by modern technological standards, but this show is fantasy, and the laws of physics need not even apply. Further, the power of 'Alchemy' already seems to break the general rule of conservation of mass (not a law, fusion bombs cause a decrease in mass by fusion) by transmuting an element of a lesser atomic mass into gold, or any element into another element with a higher mass.
Heroes with this power cannot contract the Shanti virus.	None.	+ Peter shows no symptoms of the virus when landing in an infected future New York. - Neither does Caitlin. • This could simply be due to the fact that Peter and Caitlin are not near anyone with the virus. It's unknown how contagious it is, or whether it could be airborne all over New York. + Bob believes Claire is the key to curing the virus. - Bob is a liar. • Claire's blood does indeed heal the virus. • This was achieved through a combination of Claire's blood and Mohinder's antibodies, which implies that regeneration alone is not enough to counter the virus. - Peter was supposed to have died in the outbreak from the Shanti virus in the alternate future shown in Out of Time. • Peter was NOT supposed to have died in the outbreak, Nathan was. Peter's status as dead in that future stemmed from the fact that everyone still thought he died when he nearly blew up New York. - The CDC and Angela said he died on the first outbreak. • Peter does not have this ability; he is able to mimic this ability. The virus might prevent him from accessing his empathic ability to mimic rapid cellular regeneration. • Adam seems very certain that he will survive the release of the virus--of course, his self-image is astronomical, and he has a god complex.
The exact process of rapid cell regeneration involves a rapid release of some sort of healing chemical from the brain into the bloodstream.	None.	+ Although abilities are centered in the brain, Adam was able to heal Nathan by giving him some of his blood. (Four Months Ago...) + Claire was not able to heal when she had a branch stuck in her head. Peter was not able to heal with the shard of glass in his head. Obstructions such as these could prevent the release of the "healing chemical". • It is possible that another bodily fluid, such as tears from either Adam or Claire, could heal people.
"Death" is caused by piercing of the cerebellum and brain stem.	None.	+ It is in that region they are both pierced. + The cerebellum controls motor functions making the body paralyzed. The brain stem controls the heart. Block that connection and the heart stops. + With blood stopped, regeneration would slow as cells are in hibernation. As soon as the object blocking the connection is removed, the heart restarts and regeneration resumes its rapid rate and consciousness returns. - In "I Am Become Death" Peter and Future Claire were caught, point blank, in a nuclear explosion that destroyed Costa Verde. It's nearly impossible to consider that individuals caught in such a blast, even at greater range, wouldn't be vaporized, brain and all. Needless to say, if a person can regenerate from complete vaporization, they should be able to withstand their brain being pierced.
This ability grants a certain degree of superhuman strength due to it preventing fatigue and prolonging stamina.	None.	+ Muscles would be able to repair as they tear, bones would be able to mend as they break, effectively increasing the limit of a persons strength.
The speed of regeneration will become progressively quicker.	None.	+ Adam has been able to heal at a much faster rate in the present than he did in the past.
The ability allows a person to survive without oxygen.	Adam appears to have no trouble breathing, despite being buried alive in an enclosed space. (Powerless)	• We don't know how long Adam had been buried when we saw him; if it had only been a few minutes there would certainly have been enough air in the casket with him for that amount of time. + Adam seems to live very well (despite the fact he is buried alive and far away of any human contact) in his grave. - Meredith takes Claire to an empty storage container where she sucks the oxygen out of the air by setting it on fire hence making Claire appear to suffocate. - It was a psychosomatic response. Meredith was reminding Claire of Sylar, and she seized up out of fear. • It is possible that his ability allows him to go into suspended animation, the complete stop of all cellular functions immediately, with the exception of some minor brain functions, so that a body remains frozen in time, alloying him to go without oxygen and food for long periods of time. This could be why he "dies" yet always seems to come back to life, the minor brain functions still active releasing the chemical regenerating the rest of the cells in his body when situations seem more suitable for survival. - Adam states that he has died dozens of times in his tomb. (The Ten Brides of Takezo Kensei)
If you revived a healer after they were impaled with something causing "death" by pulling it out of them 1000's of years later, they would revive unaffected.	None.	- This would require the brain to have remained intact and relatively unharmed. This would almost require extensive planning, and even with that would be very unlikely. + In Collision, it is stated that Claire was dumped naked in a river since the night before, considering the conditions, the brain would have not been intact after this much time had passed, yet she was able to regenerate. - While there could be significant damage to the brain from spending a night in a river, it would be very minor compared to the deterioration that would be seen over the course of centuries. Most immediate damage to the body shortly after death is to organs that are directly accessible to insects and microbes (skin, lungs, etc), while protected organs like the brain take a bit more time.
This power wouldn't stop you from being killed if you were strangled.	None.	- This wouldn't kill a person if they can survive without oxygen. Adam can survive without oxygen in his grave. - While this might be a good and realistic limitation, Adam Monroe is able to fake his death with drowning. - Fire saps the oxygen from the air, but it did not stop Claire. • She was still affected though.
When Claire's mom made the air thin in One of Us, One of Them, she couldn't breathe.	None.	- It may be that over-time Adam has adapted to survive without oxygen; he was buried alive in a casket without it. Claire has never been in that situation except that one time, and has only lived for 16 years. + Adam died dozens of times in his coffin. (The Ten Brides of Takezo Kensei)
Supercharging this ability would result in an individual immune to having his/her memories erased.	None.	+ Peter has already healed his own mind after having memories erased, but it required conscious effort. + It has been noted that tempering with the mind leaves "scars". + Supercharging this ability could make the healing of the mind something passive, no longer needing conscious effort.
When someone with an ability to obtain powers of others (like Peter, Sylar or Arthur) gains rapid cell regeneration, it doesn't heal the wounds this person already has.	None.	+ Adam was in condition of constant healing of his dying cells, thus preventing him from aging. But Arthur didn't get any younger when he stole regeneration from Adam.
Supercharging this ability too much would result in the persons mind unable to retain new information.	None.	- Neural connections made from new information doesn't constitute injury, or something that needs healing.
Supercharging this ability would result in the people around the regenerator to temporarily heal.	None.	- Regenerators can heal others through their blood, no supercharging required. • The theory implies that supercharging rapid cell regeneration would cause people in the immediate vicinity of the regenerator to heal spontaneously, with no blood injection required. - It makes no sense for people not directly involved with the abilities to be affected, it would only make the regeneration faster or more effective. + When Ando supercharged Daphne's ability, they were able to rescue Hiro: Hiro is not directly involved with Daphne's ability, but she was able to make her amplified power affect Hiro and Ando as well. - Ability extension has been shown to happen with super speed, Daphne has shown she's able to take someone in super speed, such thing was never shown with rapid cell regeneration without a blood transfusion.
It would be possible to acquire a mild form of enhanced strength simply by weight lifting when having this ability, simply because the muscle tissue would rebuild instantly.	"The good news is, you've certainly got the strength..." - Noah Bennet to Claire in The Eclipse, Part 1	+ Weight lifting destroys muscle tissue, forcing it to rebuild. This process normally takes 1-2 days, but with rapid cell regeneration, it would be instantaneous. Hence, you would be able to rinse and repeat right away and have 100 workouts in one day. + Claire has not been shown to try to do much serious exercise, explaining why she doesn't have any serious strength. But she isn't that weak either. + It would be a method for Claire to become more useful.