Increased apoptosis is detected in the intestinal epithelium of NEC patients; increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining was observed in villus enterocytes in NEC biopsies [181] and mRNA an protein expression of caspase 3 and Bax were found to be increased in ileum of patients with NEC compared to controls [187]. The gene discussed is CASP3; the disease is necrotizing enterocolitis.