Cell death by apoptosis
Singh, N.; Anand, S.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 32(12): 843-847
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 7896314 Document Number: 423055
Apoptosis has been the focus of considerable attention in recent years. Apoptosis/programmed cell death, is a morphologically distinct process of cell death in which cells die in a controlled manner, in response to specific stimuli, following an intrinsic programme. Apoptosis is a greek word which means "falling off", as of leaves from trees. So occurs in plants suggesting that apoptosis originated very early in biological evolution. This wide spread active process of self destruction is seen in a wide variety of tissues, and is an essential feature in both development and maintenance of multicellular animals. It is ascribed roles in the process of embryogenesis, differentiation, metamorphosis, neural development, epithelial turnover, aging, regulation of cell population of the immune system and tumor regression.