Dictionary of Biological Psychology
A free radical is an atom or MOLECULE which contains an unpaired ELECTRON, rendering it highly reactive. In order to achieve a stable state, a free radical will react with another molecule or atom, resulting in altered state or function of both entities.
Free radicals exist both as entities created with a function and as byproducts of reactions. For example, the free radical NITRIC OXIDE is a highly diffusable messenger molecule, found in many tissues throughout the body. However, uncontrolled production of free radicals may lead to pathological alterations in cell function in neurodegenerative conditions such as PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
FIONA M.INGLIS
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