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
The ability allows the user to live forever.	None.	+ Rapid cell regeneration means the cells keep healing and when we age our cells die, so the cells will heal and he doesn't age. - Aging doesn't work that way, cells die and regenerate constantly, when they die it's because they have regeneratde to many times, by this logic it would cause the user to age faster. + Flawless regeneration would created perfect copies of the cellular DNA keeping the person at that state forever + Adam Monroe (Takezo Kensei) doesn't look over 25 (which is when our cells start dying). In 1671 we meet him, by that time he is 87 years old. + Adam Monroe is still alive in 2007 and apparently has not aged since 1671 (which would make him about 350 years old) • Claire in "5 Years Gone" has bearly aged although she has not reached 25 but only 20 or 21.
The brain is the center of abilities, and if unaltered (e.g. by drugs, tree branches, or Sylar), could regenerate an entire body - surviving even decapitation.	None.	• Claire cut off her pinky toe in Lizards, which regenerated. + Assuming Claire's ability is centered in her brain, and that another body part would carry her special DNA, but would be unable to regenerate on its own, it follows that the inverse is true. - It requires a stretch of the imagination to believe that 100% of a body could auto-regenerate from less than 5% without the benefit of nutrition or oxygen (lack of lungs or a heart). • The brain may be less than 5% of the body, but as Mohinder suggested, 'if the soul exists, it exists in the brain.' • No evidence exists to verify or refute that Claire's brain could not function without the benefit of nutrition or oxygen.
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. + 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. + 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. + While it's never been shown specifically, Claire's pierced ears don't seem to heal up all the time, and she changes her earrings. There would be a lot more blood if she was re-piercing her ears everyday.
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.
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.
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.
This ability grants a certain degree of superhuman strength due to it preventing fatigue and prolonging stamina.	None.