Question

Why do nerve cells do not divide?

Answer 1

Neurons are the nerve cells, units of nervous system. Unlike other types of cells, neurons do not divide in their life time. Once they take their origin, they do not divide until death.

The main reason of neurons not dividing is that they do not have a centriole, an organelle playing an important role in cell division. Though microtubules are present in the neuron, they are unable to organise into a centriole.

Another reason is that brain cannot afford to set its memory each time a neuron is replaced by a new set of neurons after cell division. This may affect the memory of an individual. This is the reason why neurons do not divide in their life time.