Early experiments to investigate cell functioning used amoeba (Amoeba proteus) - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 19 - 2005 - Paper 1

The most likely reason for the enucleated half-cell to die after seven days is that protein synthesis was reduced. Without a nucleus, the cell cannot synthesize proteins, which are essential for maintaining cellular functions and overall survival. Protein synthesis is crucial for repairing cell structures and facilitating metabolic processes, therefore, the absence of the nucleus severely hampers the cell's ability to sustain itself, leading to its eventual death.