Final answer:
Apoptosis is the process of removing cells during embryonic development and serves as a safety mechanism to remove damaged or malfunctioning cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of removing cells during embryonic development, such as the loss of the tail during metamorphosis from tadpole to frog, is called apoptosis. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that is essential for normal development in vertebrates.
Apoptosis also serves as a safety mechanism to remove cells that have lost normal communication and control. For example, if a cell becomes damaged or malfunctioning, apoptosis can be triggered to eliminate the faulty cell and prevent it from causing harm to the rest of the organism.