noun

• The death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.

  Also called programmed cell death

  ‘Programmed cell death by apoptosis plays a key role in molding the form of chick and mammalian limbs, especially the digits.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Radioiodine can cause significant apoptosis and mitotic cell death in the thyroid tissue.’
  • ‘In addition, the signals that lead a cell to necrosis or apoptosis remain to be elucidated.’
  • ‘We have reported that turmeric also activates the lymphocytes and induces apoptosis to tumor cells.’
  • ‘The role of macrophage apoptosis in containing the growth of the bacilli is also discussed.’