Cellular self-destruct has deep roots through evolution

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016192824.htm

Date: October 16th 2014
Source: Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press)

       This article explains the importance of the the protein caspase-8, a protein responsible for triggering the death of a cell in a process known as apoptosis.

       The researchers had taken the protein and triggered it in a variety of animals, the protein had triggered the elaborate death pattern in all of the tests, mammals and non-mammals The protein can be triggered in any animal in the animal kingdom. This shows how the protein functions universally through the evolutionary pathway. It turns out that this protein is important in evolution because it allowed animals to get rid of sick, inefficient or dangerous cells, It also reacts with another protein called FADD. The key protein reaction produced can be observed throughout the animal kingdom too.

      This relates to what we learned in class by covering how animal cells evolved to work the way they do, and shows more detail on how animal cells function.