Cell death has many different meanings to scientists in different disciplines, who use very different approaches in its study. There is no single definition of cell death which can be accepted and used by all biologists. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that understanding how and why cells die is crucial to understanding many biological and pathological processes. Cells may die because they are damaged, infected or old. What triggers destruction rather than repair? Do the effects of insult differ according to the stage in its life cycle that the cell has reached? Some cells appear to be 'programmed' to die during development and it is crucial to the normal development of the organism that they do so. Is this 'programming' internal or external? The same processes appear to have a role in normal and tumour tissue growth; understanding them better may help in the design of improved cytotoxic therapeutic agents. The thirteen chapters of this book bring together the experimental approaches and most up-to-date concepts which are important in various biological disciplines, providing an insight into the common ground and the fundamental principles pf the processes. Readership: Research workers and postgraduate students of developmental biology, cell biology, embryology, oncology, radiobiology, pathology, or anatomy.