Cells are specialized to their function, as well as to their diseases. The trade offs mentioned in the article seem simplistic, trying to capture the billions of years of evolution. Repair, regeneration, regrowth and cancer have distinct mechanisms that vary from cell type to type.

Liver regeneration has been known since the ancient times: in Greek mythology an eagle was eating the liver of Prometheus every day for thousands of years after Zeus punished him for donating the fire to humans but he survived to be saved by Hercules.