selfrenewal

Selfrenewal is the capacity of a living system to renew itself and maintain function over time. In biology, the term most often describes cells, especially stem cells, that can both preserve the stem cell pool and produce differentiated progeny.

Biological self-renewal relies on patterns of cell division and regulatory signals. Symmetric self-renewal yields two stem cells and expands the pool; asymmetric self-renewal produces one stem cell and one differentiated cell, supporting tissue maintenance while enabling maturation. The balance between these modes, plus periods of quiescence and proliferation, is governed by the stem cell niche and signaling networks such as Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog, along with growth factors and metabolism. Telomere maintenance and DNA repair also influence long-term self-renewal capacity.

Dysregulation of self-renewal can underlie disease. Excessive self-renewal promotes expansion of undifferentiated cells and is a feature of many cancers; reduced self-renewal can contribute to tissue aging and degenerative decline. In regenerative medicine, insights into self-renewal support stem cell therapies, tissue engineering, and strategies to extend healthy function.

Beyond biology, self-renewal is used in organizational and personal contexts to describe renewal of purpose, processes, or identity in response to changing environments. Organizations pursue strategic renewal through leadership, culture, and structure; individuals seek continuous learning, resilience, and adaptation to maintain effectiveness across stages of life.