Apoptosis is otherwise known as programmed cell death. In common terms, it means the death of cells by normal sequence of events without causing any damage to the body. Apoptosis plays a critical role in the growth and development of the body by eradicating the mature and the unhealthy cells. In the human body, about 1 million cells undergo apoptosis in one second. In pathological condition, when the rate of apoptosis falls down, unnecessary cells get accumulated in the body and change their normal characteristics to become immortal, thus take the shape of cancer.
On the other hand, when apoptosis rate becomes too high, too many essential cells get destroyed which cause severe damage in the tissues. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases may arise due to the high rate of apoptosis.