Apoptosis in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Apotosis has an indispensable role in development and differentiation processes (review Vaux and Korsmeyer, 1999), especially in the embryo. Here, it provides a means to switch off cells no longer needed during embryonal morphogenesis and syn-aptogenesis. 

In the immune system, apoptotic programs are activated in various situations. Examples include  

Another function of apoptosis is the destruction of damaged cells. The apoptotic program may be activated in the presence of cell damage or during stress (review Evan and Littlewood, 1998). Cells with damaged DNA can be eliminated with the help of apoptotic programs before they have the chance to accumulate mutations and possibly degenerate to a tumor cell. 

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