Final answer:
Apoptosis, a programmed cell death process, occurs in amphibian tail cells during metamorphosis, which is essential for the transition of a tadpole to an adult frog.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that occurs in the tail cells of amphibians during metamorphosis is known as apoptosis. This is a type of programmed cell death that is essential for the development of the amphibian from a tadpole to an adult frog. During metamorphosis, which is driven by thyroid hormone, tadpoles reabsorb their tails as they transition into their adult form. The gastrodermis, which is the layer of cells lining the digestive tract, also undergoes significant changes as the amphibian adapts to a carnivorous diet and a different habitat. Metamorphosis is a critical phase in the life cycle of amphibians, enabling the transformation from a water-bound larva to a land-dwelling adult.
Notably, the research into apoptosis has been recognized with a Nobel Prize, which was awarded to Sydney Brenner, H. Robert Horvitz, and John E. Sulston in 2002 for their work in identifying apoptosis genes.