ABSTRACT
Apoptosis is a physiological process used to eliminate unwanted cells. It is used during development, to sculpt the body. In adult organisms, it fulfils a homeostatic role, to regulate numbers of cells in organs and tissues by balancing mitotic cell production. Apoptosis is also
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used as a defence mechanism. Cell suicide can provide protection both against dangerously altered cells of the organism itself, as well as against intracellular pathogens such as viruses.
