Teilungsfähig

Teilungsfähig is a German adjective describing an organism, cell, or tissue that is capable of division. In biology, division refers to cellular reproduction, occurring through mitosis in eukaryotes or binary fission in prokaryotes. The term is used to indicate that cells retain the ability to proliferate, grow, and contribute to development or regeneration, whether in vivo or in culture.

Not all cells are teilungsfähig. Many differentiated cells, such as mature neurons or certain muscle cells, have exited the cell cycle and are considered non-teilungsfähig. In contrast, embryonic cells, stem cells, and plant meristematic tissues remain mitotically active and highly teilungsfähig. The level of divisibility depends on cell cycle regulation, genomic integrity, and environmental cues.

In practical contexts, teilungsfähigkeit is important for tissue culture, regenerative medicine, and plant propagation. Callus tissue and cambium in plants consist of teilungsfähige Zellen that can proliferate and differentiate to form new tissues. In microbiology, the presence of teilungsfähige cells underpins growth and colony expansion in culture.

Etymology: teilungsfähig derives from Teilung (division) and fähig (able), literally “able to divide.” While the term is primarily used in biology, it may appear in contexts discussing growth, development, and tissue regeneration. See also Teilung, Zellteilung, Mitose, and Meristem.