Human Eggs Go Dormant to Remain Healthy for Decades
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Human eggs are first formed in the ovaries during fetal development, but during the early stages of their maturation process, immature egg cells known as oocytes are put into cellular arrest, remaining dormant for up to 50 years in the ovaries. Like all other eukaryotic cells, oocytes have mitochondria, which act as batteries of the cell and help generate energy for their needs during this period of dormancy in a process that is not unlike putting batteries on standby mode. Immature human egg cells skip a fundamental metabolic reaction thought to be essential for generating energy to avoid creating reactive oxygen species, which are harmful molecules that can accumulate, damage DNA, and cause cell death.
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@deepjoy A complex protein and enzyme known as complex I is the usual "gatekeeper" that initiates the reactions required to generate energy in mitochondria; though it is fundamental in the cells of living organisms, it is virtually absent in oocytes.