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How cells function

  • 14/08/2000

A normal cell does not live forever. It kills itself to make space for younger cells. During their lifespan, cells proliferate continuously to maintain a constant cell count. This tendency to commit suicide is called apoptosis , a Greek word which refers to the shedding of leaves in autumn. When a cell mutates, it not only begins to seek immortality , but also continues to make replicas of itself. These cells are known as cancer cells. This condition may be due to environmental factors. In their greed to live forever, cancer cells end up killing the very organism they live in. Cancer may be a difficult disease to cure, but the environment can always be improved upon.

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