The science of cellular suicide. (research on cell death)

From: Science News | Date: December 5, 1987| Author: Weis, Rick | Copyright information

The science of cellular suicide

From the earliest days of an organism's development, right up until the bitter end, new cells are born and old ones die. Moreover, cell death can occur in predictable patterns, especially during embryonic development. The fetal hand, for example, looks at first like a paddle. Fingers emerge only after the death of parallel rows of cells.

But what is the actual mechanism of programmed cell death? Do cells simply wither away wh...

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