'Reaper' protein strikes at mitochondria to kill cells
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 13:30
in Health & Medicine
Many billions of cells in the human body kill themselves every day, as the old and decrepit make way for the new and healthy. This process of programmed cell death, called apoptosis, is crucial in early development and in the routine maintenance of life. New research indicates a technique that could allow for highly efficient, targeted killing of problematic cells such as those that drive the uncontrolled growth of tumors.