Free radicals run in lizard families
23 Jan 2008
In lizards, the level of free radicals - molecules that cause damage to cells, tissues and DNA - runs in families, says research published today (Wednesday 23 January) in the Royal Society journal, Biology Letters.
Copyright Dr Mo Healey
Researchers from the University of Wollongong found that the production of free radicals was higher in adults than children and varied between different families of lizard species. Currently, very little is known about the genetic properties of free radicals and this new research could help us understand the process of ageing.
Free radicals are released during chemical reactions and speed up the aging process. In humans, they are linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and diabetes. As we get older, so do the cells in our body which begin producing more free oxygen radicals.
© Copyright The Royal Society
