Biological Importance of Radicals

[Yajing Feng 2J]

Hello,

Can someone explain or give an example of the biological importance of radicals and how they occur?

Thanks in advance.

[Trisha Mantri 3L]

Free radicals are unpaired electrons in the outer shell of an atom, and this causes them to be highly reactive. They may react with other molecules or compounds and this may be harmful to bodily function. Radicals pose a severe threat to cellular health, because they bind to compounds and disrupt their function, which is called oxidative stress.

[Sohan Talluri 1L]

To add on to the previous answer, two examples of radicals are the methyl radical and hydroxyl radical. The methyl radical (CH₃) is formed in the flame of burning hydrocarbons, and the hydroxyl radical (OH) is formed in the upper atmosphere when high-energy radiation hits water.

In biological systems, radicals can react with and damage DNA, causing cancer. This can be combated through antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, which react with the radicals before they can cause damage.

Hopefully this helps and please correct me if there are any mistakes.