Answer to Question #93347 in Molecular Biology for Kylie

Question

Explain why eukaryotic cells undergo apoptosis.

Answer 1

Apoptosis is a regulated process of programmed cell death. One of the main functions of apoptosis in a multicellular organism is the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and stability of the cell population. The process provides the correct ratio of the number of cells of various types and the elimination of genetically defective cells. Also, apoptosis plays an essential role in the developmental processes, in the differentiation of tissues and individual parts of organs. In animals, the role of apoptosis in the morphogenesis of different organs or their parts is observed during the process of embryogenesis. Finally, apoptosis is involved in the death of immune system cells, i.e., B- and T-lymphocytes, after the depletion of cytokines, as well as the death of autoreactive T-cells during development in the thymus. Cells affected by biological (i.e., viruses) or physical (i.e., high temperature, ionizing radiation) damaging factors are also eliminated via apoptosis.