Intramitotic variation in proliferative potential: stochastic events in cellular aging.

A series of mitotic pairs of cells were isolated and the proliferative potential of each cell determined. Although the proliferative potentials of the two cells of a single pair were similar for most pairs examined, in a significant proportion large differences were observed. These results suggest a strong stochastic component in the somatic inheritance of proliferative potential. This observation provides the basis for refinement of a mathematical model for in vitro cellular aging.