Programmed Cell Death

Programmed Cell Death

Programmed cell-death (or PCD) is death of a cell in any form, mediated by an intracellular program. PCD is carried out in a regulated process, which usually confers advantage during an organism's life-cycle. PCD serves fundamental functions during both plant and metazoa (multicellular animals) tissue development. Apoptosis and autophagy are both forms of programmed cell death, however necrosis is a non-physiological process that occurs as a result of infection or injury.

Necrosis is the death of a cell caused by external factors such as trauma or infection and occurs in several different forms, not a form of PCD as previously stated.

Read more about Programmed Cell Death:  Types, Other Types, Atrophic Factors, History, Programmed Cell-death in Plant Tissue, Programmed Cell Death in Slime Molds, Evolutionary Origin of PCD

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