All I know is it some some to do with the chemical processes constantly taking place in cell. And energy and oxygen may be damage cells over time because of byproduct from what I understand.
In: 1
Oxidative metabolism (which is the same as cellular oxidation is the process that the Mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, uses energy (ATP) from food (after breaking it down to glucose).
From here the mitochondria uses the inner membrane (which is called an electron transport chain). By pumping ATP into this process, the energy (which is just the transfer of electrons, just like electricity but on a much smaller scale) can be utilised throughout the cell for cellular processes.
After the reaction, free radicals (O2−, H2O2, and OH−) are produced as a by-product which can cause oxidative stress directly damaging the DNA of the cell which leads to cell death. This is why antioxidants are so important because they convert these harmful free radicals into oxygen (O2) and water (H2O).
The Wikipedia page on [Oxidative phosphorylation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation) summarises the process in more detail in the introduction which you should be able to understand.
Latest Answers