While the concept of programmed cell death was first used by Lockshin & Williams in 1964, the term "apoptosis" was coined later, and the discovery of this specific type of cell death is generally attributed to John Kerr, Andrew Wyllie, and Alastair Currie in the early 1970s. Their work revolutionized our understanding of cell death and its importance in various biological processes.
Key Points:
- Lockshin & Williams first used the term "programmed cell death" in 1964, but this was related to insect tissue development.
- Kerr, Wyllie, and Currie discovered and described the process of apoptosis in the early 1970s, which is a distinct type of cell death with specific morphological features.
- Apoptosis is a genetically programmed process that plays a crucial role in development, tissue homeostasis, and immunity.
