Wondering.

Today I had an insight on reproduction and life.
Why do we die?
In particular - how do we die of "old age"

I'm going to bring you on a train of thought.

Scientists believe that we "age" due to cosmic radiation - U.V., X, and Gamma Rays from the sun. These are usually miniscule, but over a life time add up and are damaging to our cells... The other thing scientists say is that as the cells keep dividing, the chance for error and damage in division increases, and slowly, but surely, they start to fail. Usually the cells in the heart end our life, when they no longer are able to divide and live long enough.

Then what about reproductive cells?

Basically a human embryo is the division of these reproductive cells, the male sperm and female egg. So... aren't we technically made from a chain of cells that are thousands of years old? Tens of thousands... if we incorporate our non-sapien ancestors, to the beginning of life, aren't we the product of billions of years of division from, eventually, one "father" cell?

Why, how...
How can this chain go on for billions of years, if cell division eventually becomes too degenerate to divide at some point?

Are we basically just cells dividing from a father and mother cell?

A Biological fractal?


Will this reproduction through division always work? Will our reproductive cells Always be healthy enough to divide? Or will they, like our other cells, eventually become too "old" to divide? Possibly millions or maybe billions of years from now...?

Will all life become too damaged? Or is there a repair mechanism that does not degenerate??

I am confused.

A biological fractal, unseen with the presence of time.