Signalling pathways involved in coordinating the timing of developmental apoptosis during Drosophila abdominal morphogenesis

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in shaping the organs and tissues of animals. Specific cues have to be provided to cells to direct their death at an appropriate time and place during development. At present however, the signalling pathways important for interpreting and responding to these cues are poorly understood. This thesis examines the signalling pathways involved in regulating developmental apoptosis using the morphogenesis of the adult Drosophila melanogaster abdomen as a model system. Through this work, multiple pathways have been identified which act to fine-tune the timing of apoptosis during the process of epithelial remodelling.