Step 1: Apoptosis is regulated chiefly by the Bcl-2 family of genes, which is located on chromosome 18.
Step 2: The question (with key B, Bcl-2) is asking for the prototype apoptosis-regulating gene, and Bcl-2 is the name-giving member of the entire apoptotic gene family.
Step 3: Within this family the members split into pro-apoptotic ones (Bax, Bak, Bid, Bcl-xs - S for stimulating) and anti-apoptotic ones (Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Mcl-1 - L for lower apoptosis).
Step 4: Bax (a) and Bcl-xs are pro-apoptotic and Mcl (d) and Bcl-xl are anti-apoptotic, but the single best answer for the defining apoptotic gene is Bcl-2, so option (b) is chosen.