Apoptosis: Apoptosis is programmed cell death and involves a sequence

of cellular events involving:

1. fragmenting of the nucleus,

2. blistering of the plasma membrane, and
3. engulfing of cell fragments by macrophages and/or neighboring
cells.
4. Apoptosis is caused by enzymes called caspases.
5. Cells normally hold caspases in check with inhibitors.
6. Caspases are released by internal or external signals.
7. Apoptosis and cell division are balancing processes that
maintain the normal level of somatic (body) cells.
8. Death by apoptosis prevents a tumor from developing.

Steps of apoptosis

1. cell round up and nucleus collapses.

2. chromatin condenses and nucleus fragments.
3. plasma membrane form blisters and blebs.
4. cell fragment contain DNA fragments.