apoptosis is chromosomal DNA degradation by deoxyribonuclease (DNase)-mediated fragmentation. In mammals, these DNases include DNA fragmentation factor 40 kDa (DFF40) and its chaperone and inhibitor, DFF45. During apoptosis, caspases cleave DFF45, releasing DFF40 to cleave DNA. In Caenorhabditis elegans, however, no homologues of DFF40 and DFF45 have been identified, and it is unclear how apopt...