Final answer:
Null mutations in ced-9 lead to increased apoptosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Null mutations in ced-9 lead to increased apoptosis.
The gene CED-9 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans functions as an inhibitor of apoptosis. When there is a null mutation in the ced-9 gene, it means that the gene is not able to perform its inhibitory function effectively. As a result, apoptosis is no longer suppressed, leading to an increase in programmed cell death.