cell death
Programmed biological termination
Cell death is the permanent cessation of all vital functions in a cell, occurring either as a programmed biological process or from injury and disease.
Programmed cell death, called apoptosis, is essential for normal development and tissue maintenance—the body deliberately kills cells that are damaged, infected, or no longer needed.
Necrosis, by contrast, is uncontrolled cell death caused by external factors like toxins, trauma, or lack of oxygen.
Researchers study cell death pathways to develop new cancer treatments.
Tissue death from bloodlessness
- infarctionTissue necrosis from ischemia
- ischemiaInsufficient tissue blood supply
- tissue damageHarm to body cells
- necroticOf dying tissue
inflammation · autolysis · trauma · toxins · frostbite · burns · venom
Set with instructions
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- Bcl-2Apoptosis-inhibiting protein
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
Gradual functional decline with age
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
- longevityDuration of existence
- gerontologyScientific study of senescence
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
free radicals · age-related decline · biomarkers · lifespan · healthspan
Compositional evaluation procedure
- viabilityCapacity to succeed
- stainingApplying dye or pigment
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
pathway · mechanism · inhibitor · knockout · in vitro · fluorescence · cytotoxicity
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
- Alzheimer'sDegenerative brain disease
Parkinson's · HIV · AIDS · hepatitis · sepsis · cardiomyopathy · cirrhosis · autoimmune
gangrene
Tissue death from bloodlessness
- infarctionTissue necrosis from ischemia
- ischemiaInsufficient tissue blood supply
- tissue damageHarm to body cells
necrotic · inflammation · autolysis · trauma · toxins · frostbite · burns · venom
programmed
Set with instructions
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- Bcl-2Apoptosis-inhibiting protein
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
phagocytosis · extrinsic pathway · executioner · initiator · homeostasis
senescence
Gradual functional decline with age
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
- longevityDuration of existence
- gerontologyScientific study of senescence
DNA damage · free radicals · age-related decline · biomarkers · lifespan · healthspan
assay
Compositional evaluation procedure
- viabilityCapacity to succeed
- stainingApplying dye or pigment
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
biomarker · pathway · mechanism · inhibitor · knockout · in vitro · fluorescence · cytotoxicity
cancer
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
Alzheimer's · Parkinson's · HIV · AIDS · hepatitis · sepsis · cardiomyopathy · cirrhosis · autoimmune · stroke
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, ionizing radiation, radiation dose
- brain pathologyneurodegeneration, demyelination, atrophy, lesion, necrosis
- Plant Defensedisease resistance, pest resistance, immune response, innate immunity, bacterial resistance
- cellscells, blood cells, nerve cells, brain cells, mitosis
- deathdead, deceased, corpse, mortality, demise
- Deteriorationdecay, rot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion
cell deathcell division
Parent splitting into offspring
cell growth · mitosis · cytokinesis · hyperplasia · clonal expansion
cell deathtissue regeneration
Biological self-repair of damage
cell regeneration · regeneration · tissue repair · wound healing · tissue growth