How does cell death contribute to...

[darksniperdragon]

I am really confused....
How does cell death contribute to development? Development of a zygote

cheers

[freezing school]

don't know but thanxs for the points

[Graft]

controlled cell death (apoptosis) contributes to development in several ways. The two most common examples are as follows:

1. Look at your fingers and toes. During the first stages of embryonic development of the hands, the entire hand is covered in a sheath of skin, like a webbed frog foot. Apoptosis occurs to the "webbing", allowing you to have singled-out digits. Sometimes, there is a genetic mutation that causes webbed toes, by mutating the gene that controls that particular type of apoptosis.

2. When your body is creating its network of blood vessels, the blood vessels start out as a solid cord of epithelium. To make them hollow, the body uses apoptosis to get rid of the inner cells.

Other examples include: deletion of the fallopian tubes in males, deletion of structures like a tadpoles tail as it becomes a mature adult, or simply controlling cell numbers, so that you do not end up with large cysts of skin or what have you.

Also, sorry about the lack of apostraphes, my computer is getting wonky suddenly.