The cell type most likely to delay senescence and terminal differentiation to continue replicating for growth and repair is the stem cell. Specifically, adult stem cells or progenitor cells possess the ability to self-renew and differentiate into various specialized cell types while maintaining their capacity for proliferation. These cells can often bypass the typical signals that lead to senescence or terminal differentiation, allowing them to contribute to tissue maintenance, growth, and repair over longer periods.
In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are examples of adult stem cells that play crucial roles in tissue regeneration and repair while retaining their proliferative potential. In addition, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have even more extensive capabilities for self-renewal and differentiation into any cell type in the body, putting them in a position to sustain replication without undergoing senescence.