HealthAugust 8, 2026

apoptosis

ay-puhp-TOH-sis

Definition

A process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms as a normal, controlled part of an organism's growth or development.

Etymology

Derived from Greek 'apo' (from) and 'ptosis' (a falling), the term was coined in the 1970s by biologists to describe the 'falling off' or shedding of cells, similar to leaves falling from a tree.

In the news

The article lists apoptosis as one of the fundamental biological processes regulated by microRNAs, which can become aberrant in the context of cancer. Understanding this process is vital for researchers studying how cancer initiates and progresses.

Royan Institute Researchers Develop namiRa, a Comprehensive, Manually Curated Database for microRNA Expression, Function, and Deregulation in Cancer

Read the full article ↗

WANA News Agency

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