1. The development of the term apoptosis 2. The significance of apoptosis 3. Morphological features of apoptosis 4. Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis signalling pathways 4.1 Various death signals activate common signalling 4.2 Caspases are central initiators and executioners of apoptosis 4.3 Extrinsic apoptosis pathways of type I and type II 4.4 Mitochondria as central regulators of intrinsic apoptosis 5. Regulatory mechanisms in apoptosis signalling 5.1 The Bcl-2 family 5.2 Regulation of apoptosis by IAPs 6. Disease as a consequence of dysregulated apoptosis 7. References