Ways of Cell Death as of June 12, 2001

Ways of Cell Death as of June 12, 2001

Generally, there are two ways of cell death: necrosis and apoptosis. Necrosis refers to accidental cell death, while apoptosis is the abnormal expression of genes that triggers a chronic death program. First, endogenous nucleases cleave DNA strands, chromosomes aggregate and move to the edges, the nucleus shrinks, and apoptotic bodies form. Throughout the entire process of apoptosis, the cell remains intact, which is why some say apoptosis is the internal evolution of a cell toward death, whereas cell death is the destruction and disintegration of a cell caused by external factors, with components leaking and seeping out.