apoptosis

noun

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ap·o·pto·sis | \ ˌa-pəp-ˈtō-səs

, -pə-ˈtō-

plural apoptoses\ ˌa-pəp-ˈtō-ˌsēz

, -pə-ˈtō- \

Definition of apoptosis

: a genetically directed process of cell self-destruction that is marked by the fragmentation of nuclear DNA, is activated either by the presence of a stimulus or removal of a suppressing agent or stimulus, is a normal physiological process eliminating DNA-damaged, superfluous, or unwanted cells, and when halted (as by gene mutation) may result in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation

— called also cell suicide, programmed cell death

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Examples of apoptosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Quercetin has also been linked to apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to kill off worn out or dysfunctional cells, which may help reduce cancer risk. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "Health Benefits of Celery," 12 Dec. 2019 Quercetin has also been linked to apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to kill off worn out or dysfunctional cells. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "7 Health Benefits of Grapes," 25 Oct. 2019 Quercetin has also been linked to apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to kill off worn out or dysfunctional cells. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "7 Health Benefits of Grapes," 25 Oct. 2019 Quercetin has also been linked to apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to kill off worn out or dysfunctional cells. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "4 Health Benefits of Corn," 12 Aug. 2019 The result was that the cells became less likely to destroy themselves through a process called apoptosis (programmed cell death), which organisms often use as a kind of quality control system for eliminating defective tissue. — Quanta Magazine, "A Zombie Gene Protects Elephants From Cancer," 7 Nov. 2017 If the damage is sufficiently critical, the cell will respond by committing an orderly sort of suicide called apoptosis, which keeps it from causing any further problems. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Drugs that kill off old cells may limit a body’s aging," 10 July 2018 Along with colleagues, the pair focused on a core challenge: how to coax myofibroblasts to self-destruct, a cellular process called apoptosis. — Jennifer Couzin-frankel, Science | AAAS, "Pushing cells to self-destruct combats deadly fibrosis," 13 Dec. 2017 These proteins can both induce or prevent apoptosis, and the team suspected that the balance between these proteins was disrupted in the overactive myofibroblasts. — Jennifer Couzin-frankel, Science | AAAS, "Pushing cells to self-destruct combats deadly fibrosis," 13 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apoptosis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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apoplectiform septicemia

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Last Updated

21 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Apoptosis.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apoptosis. Accessed 24 January 2020.

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More Definitions for apoptosis

apoptosis

noun

ap·o·pto·sis | \ ˌa-pəp-ˈtō-səs, -pə-ˈtō- \

plural apoptoses\ -ˌsēz

Medical Definition of apoptosis

: a genetically determined process of cell self-destruction that is marked by the fragmentation of nuclear DNA, is activated either by the presence of a stimulus or by the removal of a stimulus or suppressing agent, is a normal physiological process eliminating DNA-damaged, superfluous, or unwanted cells (as immune cells targeted against the self in the development of self-tolerance or larval cells in amphibians undergoing metamorphosis), and when halted (as by gene mutation) may result in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation

— called also cell suicide, programmed cell death