∞ 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]: