How does apoptosis contribute to development of an organism? Solution Apoptosis also known as programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. A cell undergoes various biochemical changes during apoptosis such as cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and mRNA decay etc. Apoptosis plays a very an important role not only in development but in survival of the organism. Followings are few examples of apoptosis: 1. During brain development half of the neurons undergo death due to apoptosis. 2. Loss of vertebrate tail during human fetal development. 3. Loss of mesenchyme between the digits is because of apoptosis. 4. Removal of abnormal cells/ damaged cell that can cause cancer due to apoptosis. In human embryonic development and differentiation depends on cell division and cell death (apoptosis). Apoptosis separates or splits tissue layers, tissue layer fusion, open lumens, vestigial organ removal etc. Apoptosis also remove over produces cells of immune system (those produce unstable antibodies) and nervous system..