Apoptosis is the Key to Life

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death. It is used during early development to eliminate unwanted cells. For example, those between the fingers of a developing hand (genonome.gov/genetics, "Apoptosis" 2025). Apoptosis removes unwanted cells so that new cells may develop.

Imagine if apoptosis didn't exist and healthy cells would not regenerate, our chances for survival would become detrimental. Cells that are too damaged or too old if not removed can duplicate one another. Apoptosis plays a huge role in prevention of cancer cells from forming. It not only destroys unwanted cells but it also prevents from tumors to grow. Apoptosis helps keep the body healthy by replacing old cells, strengthens the immune system, gets rid of damaged cells, stops damaged cells from replicating and supports homeostasis (mycleavelandclinic.org/health articles 2024).

Apoptosis is very complex it has to be balanced. If too much of it occurs, it can produce neurodegenerative diseases to occur such as Parkinson's Disease, Huntington Disease, and Alzheimer's Disease. Apoptosis and necrosis both lead to cellular death. One main difference is that apoptosis plays a role in your developmental prior to birth (mycleavelandclinic.org/health articles 2024). Apoptosis can be viewed as a natural occurring process while necrosis is considered pathological (akadeum.com/blog/necrosis 2024).

Necrosis occurs when there has been damage caused to the cell due to infection, and other factors such as denaturation of proteins. For example in patients that have developed a diabetic wound that is showing signs and symptoms of necrosis not only contribute to diabetes but also to a decrease and loss of tissue perfusion. Most patients that develop such ulcers in the acute phase will be recommended to do hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The treatment consist of 100% oxygen to the entire body especially areas of less tissue prefusion with hopes of new cell regeneration. It is a type of therapy that is used in hopes of salvaging an extremity.

References:

National Human Genome Research Institute (January 2025). "Apoptosis"

https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project

Cleveland Clinic (September 2024). "Apoptosis"

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/apoptosis

Akadeum Life Sciences.(December,2024). "Necrosis vs. Apoptosis: Process, Necrotic Cell Death, & Apoptosis Steps"

https://www.akadeum.com/blog/necrosis-vs-apoptosis-processes-necrotic-cell-death-apoptosis-steps/?srsltid=AfmBOor81gCXCcCOS8cd81fgxpmwqajElZvyzA6bKSul04DyTDekR5-Y&cn-reloaded=1