Apoptosis

∞ generated and posted on 2016.08.19 ∞

Controlled and therefore intentional cellular suicide or self destruction as occurs within the bodies of multicellular organisms.

Apoptosis is the mechanism by which the cells making up animal bodies intentionally destroy themselves altruistically for the sake of enhancing the fitness (i.e., functionality) of the body and in a manner that otherwise is not dangerous to the body.

Apoptosis serves to eliminate unneeded, misplaced, or dangerous cells in a manner that otherwise is not harmful to the body as a whole.

The following video is a cute rendering of apoptosis, complete with a sampling from the finale of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" [listen]:


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