16 Questions
What is the main purpose of apoptosis in eukaryotic cells?
To eliminate unwanted and defective cells
Which of the following disorders can result from improper regulation of apoptosis?
Cancer
What type of signals can trigger apoptosis?
A wide variety of signals including Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factor, and growth factor withdrawal
What is the main role of caspases in the apoptotic process?
To act as effectors of the cell death pathway
Which of the following proteins can be cleaved by activated caspases during apoptosis?
Lamins
What happens to cells during normal development and turnover?
They undergo apoptosis
What is the main purpose of balancing cell loss and cell gain in metazoans?
To maintain the complex architecture of tissues
What is a significant similarity between mitosis and apoptosis?
Both processes involve chromatin condensation
What sets apoptotic cells apart from cells undergoing mitosis?
Apoptotic cells display a nucleosomal ladder pattern during DNA degradation
How can manipulation of the cell cycle affect the apoptotic response?
It can prevent or induce an apoptotic response depending on the cellular context
What role do proliferative proteins play in relation to apoptosis?
They may act to sensitize cells to apoptosis
What is the mechanism by which apoptotic cells are typically removed from the body?
Phagocytosis by adjacent cells or macrophages
What happens to DNA in apoptotic cells that sets them apart from mitotic cells?
DNA is degraded at internucleosomal linker sites, yielding DNA fragments in multiples of 180 bp
What is a common feature of both mitosis and apoptosis?
Cells lose substrate attachment during both processes
Why is it important to balance cell loss and cell gain in metazoans?
To maintain tissue architecture and allow adaptation to changing circumstances
What is the relationship between genes involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis regulation?
Genes involved in cell cycle progression may regulate apoptosis
Test your knowledge about the conserved mechanism by which eukaryotic cells commit suicide, enabling an organism to eliminate unwanted and defective cells through an orderly process of cellular disintegration. This quiz covers the significance of apoptosis in normal development, cellular turnover, and various pathological conditions.
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