Select the Appropriate Description of Apoptosis

Question

Select the appropriate description of apoptosis.
A)Apoptosis is regulated by cell surface receptors that signal when a cell has reached its density-dependent limits.
B)During apoptosis, dying cells leak out their contents, including digestive enzymes that also destroy healthy cells.
C)During apoptosis, cellular agents chop up the DNA and fragment the organelles and other cytoplasmic components of a cell.
D)Each cell organelle has protein signals that initiate the breakdown of the organelle's components, which leads to cell death.
E)Apoptosis only occurs in old cells.

Accepted Answer

During apoptosis, the cell is dismantled from the inside out as cellular agents chop up the DNA and fragment organelles and other cytoplasmic components. This is a highly regulated process that does not involve the leakage of cellular contents, as described in choice B. Apoptosis is also not solely regulated by cell surface receptors signaling density-dependent limits, as described in choice A, and it does not occur exclusively in old cells, as described in choice E. Choice D is also incorrect as there are not specific protein signals on each organelle that initiates apoptosis.