d@n: TTSH - Teo Tien Seng Hospital
Friday, April 07, 2006

TTSH - Teo Tien Seng Hospital

Below is the email reply to one of the LSM2103 students by my lecturer...

Your question
What do you mean when you say that apoptosis is active death whilenecrosis is passive death? What is the meaning of active and passive in this context?

My answer
Apoptosis death is not death by accident. An example of death by accident is when you stand by the road side and a car runs out of control and hit you. You did nothing and your death is rather passive

However if you planned your death then it is more akin to apoptosis. You go to a gun shop and buy a gun and 2 bullets. Then you write your will and you make funeral arrangements and then you take the gun, and shoot yourself. This is no accident. You take an active part in killing yourself. This is apoptosis.

Don't you just LOVE life science lecturers???


7:49 PM