[ExI] atoms and cells - what is shared between them?

[natasha at natasha.cc]

Greg Fahy had written:

"The final most stable state of biomolecules at the end of all  
possible degradation is, for the most part, carbon dioxide, water,  
nitrogen gas or nitrogen compounds, and sulfur compounds, with  
inorganic and trace amounts of organic minerals (Fahy 2008)."

All molecules are made of atoms which are, for the most part,  
indestructible and, thereby, immortal. *If atoms are the elemental  
components from which all cells are derived, then why does programmed  
cell death occur?*

Also, is it true that if apoptosis is a chemical process, it has no  
connection with the atomic constitutionof cells?

Any insights on thsi will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!
Natasha