Apoptosis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an adenocarcinoma cell undergoing programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs when

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Apoptosis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an adenocarcinoma cell undergoing programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs when a cell becomes old or damaged. The cell becomes spherical as its cytoskeleton, which holds cell shape, is digested, and blebs (vesicles) form on its surface. Eventually the cell breaks into several vesicles, now known as apoptotic bodies, and is phagocytosed (engulfed and digested) by specialist cells. The breakdown into vesicles prevents the leakage of potentially toxic or immunogenic substances from the cell. Magnification: x5000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4299px × 4065px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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