Question

Which organisms possess the capacity to undergo programmed cell death?

a) Animals only
b) Plants only
c) Both animals and plants
d) Neither animals nor plants

Answer 1

Both animals and plants possess the capacity to undergo programmed cell death, a process essential for development and homeostasis in animals, and for functionality in certain plant cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The capacity to undergo programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, is possessed by both animals and plants. In animals, apoptosis is crucial for development and maintaining homeostasis, such as in eliminating cells that are no longer needed or potentially harmful. In plants, cells involved in water transport and structural integrity often undergo programmed cell death as part of their normal function, contributing to the plant's overall health and stability even after their death. This genetically controlled process is a common thread in the biology of multicellular organisms and is important in disease prevention and the normal growth and development of these organisms.