Apoptosis

Question 0

What is the sequence of events that takes place during apoptosis

Answer 0

• enzymes break down cytoskeleton
• cytoplasm becomes dense and organelles tightly packed
• blebs form
• chromatin condenses, nuclear envelope breaks and DNA broken up
• cell breaks up into vesicles which are then taken up by phagocytosis
• the process is very quick

Question 1

What is apoptosis?

Answer 1

Programmed cell death which occurs after about 50 mitotic divisions

Question 2

How is apoptosis controlled?

Answer 2

Using a large range of cell signals.

Proteins are released into the cytosol which bind to apoptosis inhibitor proteins and allow the process to take place

Question 3

What function does apoptosis have during limb development?

Answer 3

Apoptosis causes fingers and toes to separate from each other

Question 4

What happens if apoptosis rates and mitosis rates are not balanced?

Answer 4

Not enough apoptosis leads to tumours and to much leads to cell loss and degeneration