The correct answer is "is a programmed mechanism of cell death".
Apoptosis by definition is programmed cell death. Apoptosis happens when the cell recognize irreversible damage weather in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, organelles, or in the genetic material inside the cell. This is to prevent proliferation of damaged or mutant cells that can lead to the development of neoplasm.
Soil is non-living because it does not need the basic units of life. Soil does not necessarily need water to survive, soil does not need food, soil does not need shelter, soil doesn’t even need air.
