Apoptosis:: Molecular Biology of Cell Death

Apoptosis is a genetically programmed, energy-dependent process of cell death that plays a fundamental role in normal development, tissue homeostasis, and defense mechanisms of multicellular organisms. The term apoptosis, derived from the Greek word meaning "falling off," describes a controlled and orderly mode of cellular demise. Unlike necrosis, which is a pathological and uncontrolled form of cell death associated with inflammation and tissue injury, apoptosis is a physiological process that eliminates unwanted, damaged, or potentially harmful cells without eliciting an inflammatory response.Apoptosis is essential for maintaining the balance between cell proliferation and cell death. It is involved in embryogenesis, organ development, immune system regulation, and turnover of aged cells.