Maximum life span is a measure of the maximum amount of time one or more members of a population has been observed to survive between birth and death. The term can also denote an estimate of the maximum amount of time that a member of a given species could survive between life and death, provided optimal circumstances.
Most living species have at least one upper limit on the number of times cells can divide. For humans, this is called the Hayflick limit, although number of cell divisions does not strictly control lifespan (non-dividing cells and dividing cells lived over 120 years in the oldest known human).
Read more about Maximum Life Span: Definition, In Humans, In Other Animals, In Plants, Increasing Maximum Life Span, Research Data Concerning Maximum Life Span
Famous quotes containing the words maximum, life and/or span:
“Probably the only place where a man can feel really secure is in a maximum security prison, except for the imminent threat of release.”
—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)
“Vacations prove that a life of pleasure is overrated.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“The last bear, shot drinking in the Dakotas
Loped under wires that span the mountain stream.”
—Hart Crane (1899–1932)