Citation
The Distribution of Cellular Turnover in the Human Body
TL;DR
Humans replace approximately 330 billion cells per day (0.33 × 10¹² ± 0.02)
This landmark Weizmann Institute study provides the rigorous quantification behind the chapter's claim that humans replace approximately 330 billion cells per day. This isn't a metaphor - it's measured science.
For business readers, this research underscores that healthy organisms are constantly turning over their components. The stability you see (a body, a culture) is the result of constant replacement and renewal, not static preservation. Organizations that resist all turnover are fighting biology.
Key Findings from Sender & Milo (2021)
- Humans replace approximately 330 billion cells per day (0.33 × 10¹² ± 0.02)
- 86% of replaced cells are blood cells
- 12% are gastrointestinal epithelial cells
- Total cellular mass turnover is 80 ± 20 grams per day