How fast does apoptosis occur?

Apoptosis is a type of cell suicide, also known as programmed cell death. It is a process by which the body eliminates old, unnecessary or unhealthy cells without harming the surrounding tissue. Scientists observing this process found that signals that trigger apoptosis move through the cell like a wave at a rate of 30 micrometers per minute. Apoptotic cells in any system can die and disappear relatively quickly. The time from initiation of apoptosis to completion can occur as quickly as 2–3 hours.