Apoptosis (Noun)
Meaning
A type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- Apoptosis plays a crucial role in eliminating damaged or unwanted cells during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis.
- The process of apoptosis involves a complex interplay of signaling pathways that ultimately lead to the self-destruction of the cell.
- In many types of cancer, the normal mechanisms of apoptosis are disrupted, allowing damaged cells to continue growing and dividing out of control.
- The researcher studied the effects of various chemicals on apoptosis in cancer cells, searching for new leads for cancer treatment.
- During times of extreme stress, cells can initiate apoptosis as a last resort to prevent further damage to the organism.