Programmed Cell Death (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
- Programmed cell death is essential for normal development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms.
- Apoptosis is a type of programmed cell death that can be triggered by DNA damage or hypoxia.
- The regulation of programmed cell death is critical for maintaining the balance between cell proliferation and cell loss.
- Disruption of programmed cell death can lead to various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
- In metazoans, programmed cell death serves as a protective mechanism to eliminate cells that are damaged or infected.