Genome integrity of cells is threatened by DNA damage caused by environmental and endogenous stresses. To cope with these stress conditions, cells have developed a set of surveillance mechanisms that monitor the status and structure of DNA during cell cycle progression. In fission yeast and mammals, DNA damage activates the signalling kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and Rad3-related (ATR) that simultaneously turn on DNA repair complexes and arrest cell division, allowing cells to repair damaged DNA before proceeding into mitosis.

Injury-induced regeneration represents a self-preserving mechanism in most multicellular lifeforms. Depending on the species, the extent of regeneration is highly variable. Among metazoans regeneration is frequently restricted to tissue repair. Contrary, plants display an unrivaled regeneration capacity that not only restores damaged tissues, but can also give rise to whole plant bodies, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack, and dramatic weather conditions.