Step 1: Understand that apoptosis is a process where cells intentionally die.
Step 2: Recognize that apoptosis is different from necrosis, which is uncontrolled cell death.
Step 3: Identify that the primary cause of apoptosis is often due to signals that tell the cell it is time to die, such as damage, stress, or developmental cues.
Step 4: Learn that these signals activate specific pathways in the cell that lead to its death in a controlled way.
