Introduction

 
  The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2002     
       
 

Programmed cell death eliminates unwanted structures during the development of the male and female inner reproductive organs.

 

Male Female

The human body consists of hundreds of cell types, all originating from the fertilized egg. During the embryonic
and foetal periods, cells increase dramatically in number, mature and become specialized to form tissues and
organs. Lots of cells are formed also in the adult body – more than a thousand billion cells each day. To counter
cell production and maintain an appropriate number of cells in the tissues, extensive cell death occurs both in the
foetus and in the adult. This delicate, controlled elimination of cells is called programmed cell death.

In the human foetus, the interdigital mesoderm, initially formed between fingers and toes, is removed by programmed cell death. The intestinal lumen and other tissues are sculpted by programmed cell death.
   
 
   Contents:  
 
Nobel Poster from the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, web adapted by Nobel Web
 

To cite this section
MLA style: Introduction. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Thu. 21 Nov 2024. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2002/7565-introduction-2002/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Nobel Prizes and laureates

Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.

See them all presented here.

Illustration

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.