Well, it certainly doesn’t help, and it can lead to the accumulation of defects such as cancer and natural signs of aging in the body. It’s not exactly what kills us INSTANTLY before death, but it’s something that tends to arise, and leads to long term issues and complications that will lead to death over time.
Telomere Shortening
DNA Repair and Aging
Before this thread reachs Zombie status, I thought I would note this article (summarizing a paper published in Nature Neuroscience) which may be of some interest and relevance. Basically, it provides further proof that for cell death to occur, there are specific biochemical processes which must be effected.
Rather than attempt a summation, may I simply recommend How We Die by Sherwin B. Nuland? Each chapter details the specifics of how various diseases, traumas or syndromes cause death. Warning - not for hypocondriacs of any kind!!!
Believe it or not, it’s oxygen. It’s a double-eged sword. Oxygen is a great chelator of electrons that can be used to harness energy in the form of adenosine triphophate. It is this formation of ATP that allows each individual cell in your body to perform all the metabolic reactions that are essential for life. Reactions with oxygen generates oxygen atoms with unpaired electrons (radicals) that change nucleotide bases and can even break DNA strands :eek:. They peroxidize lipids and irreversibly modify proteins and other molecules. Oxygen gives you life but also death. See ya in the casket. 