n :  a genetically determined process of intracellular cell destruction postulated to exist and to be activated by a stimulus or by the removal of a suppressing agent or stimulus in order to explain the orderly breakdown and elimination of superfluous or unwanted cells (as immune cells targeted against the self in the development of self-tolerance or larval cells in amphibians undergoing metamorphosis) - called also programmed cell death  ap*o*ptot*ic adj 
 
 
 
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