A. The process of apoptosis is a cascade of biochemical events comprising 4 phases: (1) signaling, (2) control and regulation, (3) execution, and (4) elimination of the dead cell (Bennetts & Pierce, 2010). During the signaling phase, activation of apoptotic pathways is triggered by various stimuli. For example, these stimuli may include: glucocorticoids, toxins, nitric oxide, nutrient deprivation, viral infection, hypoxia, ligand receptor activation, ionizing irradiation or attack by cytotoxic lymphocytes (Bennetts & Pierce, 2010). As a result, sequences leading to cell death occur through activation of death receptors. Activation of Fas receptors leads to the formation of the Fas-associated death domain (FADD). Additionally, activation of TNF receptors produces a TNF receptor-associated lethal domain (TRADD). It is the domain molecule that causes caspase activation which leads to apoptosis. During the control and regulation phase, the cell will continue its apoptotic cycle or mechanisms will be initiated to interrupt apoptosis. The two genes that play an important role in regulation...