Apoptosis

Apoptosis is programmed cell death due to malfunctioning of the cell or that it is no longer useful for the body. A variety of biochemical reactions occur during Apoptosis which break down the cell components into ‘apoptotic bodies’. These apoptotic bodies are then engulfed and digested by phagocytes and recycled. Apoptosis is the opposite of necrosis, which is the unprogrammed death of a cell due to chemical or physical pressures. Apoptosis maintains a balance of cells in the human body so it is highly important. A malfunction of apoptotic bodies can lead cancer.