APOPTOSES Meaning and
Definition
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Apoptosis, derived from the Greek words "apo" meaning away and "ptosis" meaning falling, refers to a highly regulated process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. It is a fundamental biological phenomenon involved in shaping and maintaining the health of various tissues and organs.
During apoptosis, cells undergo a series of intracellular events leading to their deliberate self-destruction. This process serves critical roles in various physiological processes, including embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, immune response, and elimination of damaged, infected, or unnecessary cells.
The induction of apoptosis is controlled by a complex signaling network that integrates both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Intrinsic signals can arise from cellular stress, DNA damage, or developmental cues, while extrinsic factors include signaling molecules and death-inducing ligands. These signals converge on a cascade of molecular events culminating in the activation of specific enzymes called caspases, which subsequently degrade essential cellular components and lead to cell death.
Apoptosis plays a crucial role in preventing the accumulation of damaged or aberrant cells, thereby maintaining tissue integrity and function. Dysregulation of apoptosis has been linked to numerous diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of apoptosis has significant implications in both normal physiological development and disease pathogenesis, making it an important area of investigation in biomedicine.
Common Misspellings for APOPTOSES
- zpoptoses
- spoptoses
- wpoptoses
- qpoptoses
- aooptoses
- aloptoses
- a-optoses
- a0optoses
- apiptoses
- apkptoses
- aplptoses
- appptoses
- ap0ptoses
- ap9ptoses
- apootoses
- apoltoses
- apo-toses
- apo0toses
- apoproses
- apopfoses
Etymology of APOPTOSES
The word "apoptosis" comes from the Greek roots "apo" meaning "from" or "away", and "ptosis" meaning "falling" or "dropping". It was coined in 1972 by the Australian scientist John F.R. Kerr and his colleagues to describe a specific type of cell death that is characterized by a controlled, programmed process of cellular self-destruction. The term was chosen to highlight the idea that during apoptosis, cells shrink and detach from neighboring cells before being engulfed by immune cells or phagocytes, ultimately leading to their "falling off" or elimination from the organism.
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