Cell Death: Not All “Zombies” Are the Same

Apoptosis – “Planned self-destruction” Cells don’t always die in chaos—sometimes, they exit quietly and efficiently.  Apoptosis is a controlled, orderly process where a cell essentially decides it’s time to go—usually because it’s damaged or no longer needed. The cell shrinks, breaks itself into small, tidy fragments, and these are quickly cleaned up and recycled by the body. 

One cool example of apoptosis occurs in the formation of fingers.  Early in development, your hands actually start as paddle-like structures—with no separate fingers. The tissue between the future fingers is removed through apoptosis.  Cells in the “webbing” receive signals telling them to self-destruct.  They shrink, fragment, and are neatly cleared away.  This creates the spaces between the fingers.

There’s no inflammation, no mess—just a smooth, silent removal.  Like a building being carefully demolished and its materials reused.

Autophagy – “Self-cleaning / recycling” Autophagy isn’t really about dying—it's about survival.

In this process, the cell breaks down and recycles its own worn-out parts, especially during stress (like a lack of nutrients). It’s a way of conserving resources and staying alive. However, if stress is too severe or lasts too long, this self-recycling can eventually lead to cell death.

Like cleaning your house, repurposing old materials to keep things running.

Necrosis – “Accidental cell death”. Necrosis is the opposite of tidy. It happens when cells are suddenly damaged—by injury, toxins, or lack of oxygen. The cell swells and bursts, spilling its contents into the surrounding area. This triggers inflammation and can damage nearby cells.  Gangrene is an example of necrosis. The blood supply gets cut off, so cells don’t get oxygen and the tissue dies. The affected area can turn: dark purple → brown → black.

Like a building exploding—causing chaos and collateral damage.

Pyroptosis – “Fiery, alarm-raising death”. Pyroptosis is dramatic and purposeful.  When a cell detects infection, it sacrifices itself in a loud, inflammatory way to alert the immune system. The cell swells, bursts, and releases signals that call in immune defences. 

An example of this is infection with Salmonella (food poisoning bacteria). Here Salmonella infects macrophages (a type of immune cell). The infected cell detects danger using inflammasomes (like a built-in alarm system). Then pyroptosis happens and creates a strong immune response to fight the infection.

This isn’t quiet or neat—it’s a deliberate alarm system.

Like pulling a fire alarm to warn everyone that danger is near.

Not all cell death is the same:

Apoptosis = clean and controlled

Autophagy = survival through recycling

Necrosis = accidental and messy

Pyroptosis = loud and defensive

Together, these processes keep the body balanced—removing damaged cells, fighting infection, and adapting to stress. It strikes me that such cell deaths has parallels in our own lives.  We too have to decide to get rid of stuff in our lives, we have to decide what we can reuse or recycle, sometimes we get badly injured which can be messy to ourselves and those around us and finally sometimes we need to pull the alarm loudly on abuse to defend the whole community.

Keep your dirty feet out off my mind!

It began with a metallic watch strap. I noticed mine had begun to look tarnished. Even mottled in places. I had worn it every day, everywhere for years. The idea occurred to me to replace the strap as the watch itself works perfectly. Then, one night as I brushed my teeth I wondered if I used a little nailbrush and a bit of soap on the strap would it make a difference? I began cautiously as the watch itself was not waterproof after all. Within a few seconds, I was appalled at the black gunge in the hand basin. I had been wearing the watch for years and it had obviously accumulated all the dirt and grease from my arms and everything I had ever touched. It was disgusting and as I scrubbed and more dirt emerged the original metallic colour of the strap began to be restored. All that time, all that dirt carried by me unknowingly.

It made me think about all the other dirt we unwittingly carry from place to place and people to people without registering. That same evening, I took a long hard look at my sandals. The roads here are dirty. The pavements are even worse with dogs’ poo. I cheated and put them in a basin in hot water and a dishwashing tablet.  Not the way to go as I later discovered.  Apparently, proper cleaning involves baking soda and being placed in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight to kill bacteria. For those who want to know more check this link out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6-rbLF_F54

I decided I had a mission it was time I tackled dirty areas of my life. This is but the beginning of the journey!  However, I decided to focus on cleaning one’s own body as a proper place to begin this whole business. Perhaps it is the parts we all ignore that are the places we need to focus on.  

I suspected that the dirtiest part of the foot would be the ankle. But on second thoughts perhaps between the toes. These are damp places and without cleaning could really stink.  Another place that can be forgotten is the bellybutton. How often does that crevice see the light of day? How much fluff and gunge can hide in this tiny cave? A 2012 study found 2,368 species of bacteria nestled into the navel.  Disturbing right?

When I breastfed my first son I was unaware of milk running down behind the back of his ear and drying there. As he didn’t like getting his head wet, in his daily bath, I had taken to just mopping his face and neck quickly with a wet face cloth. Eventually, It was the stench of rotting milk that raised alarm bells. When I pulled back his ear there was a huge curdle of dried milk behind it like crusty old bird poo. I was horrified but it taught me something about cleanliness.  Just because you cannot see the dirt does not mean it is not there.

Another cavity requiring careful cleaning is the bottom. My attention was drawn to this by a tattoo artist. When asked what was his pet hate he responded that those who came in to get a tattoo without washing their asses.  He pointed out that hours of working on an upper thigh, lower back or stomach frequently had him gagging over the smell drifting from an unclean posterior. Obviously, one needs to get to the bottom of things.

Of course, cleaning the exterior is one thing but even interior cavities are sometimes targeted. This can sometimes feel a step too far. However, a mouthwash makes sense, right? In 1AD the Romans used human or animal urine as a mouth wash. Apparently, the urine when stored long enough turns into ammonia which helped freshen the breath and whiten the teeth. Just in case this freaks you out it is also true that one of the most popular mouthwashes Listerine was originally invented for surgical procedures and for cleaning floors.

But, apart from the mouth, messing about with a delicate balance of other inner functioning cavities seems invasive and unnecessary. Spraying chemicals into your orifices may not serve to help their functioning at all and may even disrupt the fauna necessary for good health.  But this business of cleanliness is important in so many other ways other than just the physical aspect.  I suspect our minds are impacted by cleanliness just as much.

Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.

Benjamin Disraeli

I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.

Mahatma Gandhi

That last quote speaks of how important keeping cleanness of mind and spirit is.  I have long suspected that such cleanliness makes for a happy and contented life.  I unexpectedly loved this group of over one-hundred-year-olds because of their optimism and hope.