Indeed, our bodies aren't perfect. They make mistakes, among them
producing toxic chemicals, called oxidants, in cells. We fight these
oxidants naturally, and by eating foods rich in antioxidants.
All forms of life that breathe oxygen -- even ones that can't be seen
with the naked eye, such as bacteria -- must fight oxidants to live.
"If they don't," says scientist Colleen Hansel of the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, "there are consequences:
cancer and premature aging in humans, death in microorganisms."
cancer and premature aging in humans, death in microorganisms."
Now researchers have discovered the first light-independent source of
superoxide. The key is bacteria common in the depths of the oceans and
other dark places.
Now researchers have discovered the first light-independent source of
superoxide. The key is bacteria common in the depths of the oceans and
other dark places.
 |
| Superoxide-producing bacteria live
in dark places like the depths of
Elkhorn Slough, Calif.
(Credit: Scott Wankel, WHOI)
|
The result expands the known sources of superoxide to the 95 percent of
Earth's habitats that are "dark." In fact, 90 percent of the bacteria
tested in the study produced superoxide in the dark.
"Superoxide has been linked with light, such that its production in
darkness was a real mystery," says Deborah Bronk of the National Science
Foundation's (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences, which co-funded the
research with NSF's Division of Earth Sciences.
"This finding shows that bacteria can produce superoxide in the absence of light."
Following sites referred thankfully and reference for further detail:
#Co-authors of the paper are Julia Diaz and Chantal Mendes of Harvard
University, Peter Andeer and Tong Zhang of Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution and Bettina Voelker of the Colorado School of Mines.
#thankfully shared from; http://www.sciencedaily.com
Related blog post links:
http://sciencedoing.blogspot.in/2011/12/oxygen-necessary-evil.html
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