Question

What are the differences between autolysis and decomposition? CSI

Answer 1

Autolysis is a process by which a biological cell self-destructs. It is uncommon in adult organisms and usually occurs in injured cells or dying tissue. It occurs when a lysosome allows the digestive enzymes out of its membranes. The cell then, in effect, digests itself. The effect of autolysis is usually lessened in organelles separated from a cell using cell fractionation, usually by keeping the organelle in the same conditions it was in before removal; usually keeping organelles as 'ice-cold isotonic buffers'.
while Apoptosis(pronounced ă-pŏp-tŏ’sĭs, apo tō' sis) is a form of programmed cell death in multicellular organisms. It is one of the main types of programmed cell death (PCD) and involves a series of biochemical events leading to a characteristic cell morphology and death, in more specific terms, a series of biochemical events that lead to a variety of morphological changes, including blebbing, changes to the cell membrane such as loss of membrane asymmetry and attachment, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation. Processes of disposal of cellular debris whose results do not damage the organism differentiates apoptosis from necrosis.