BIOLOGY-PATHOGENESIS OF AGING AND DISEASE Free radicals and mortality Life is a network of chemical reactions and these occur in a gradient of reactivity. The sequence of reactions occur because of oxidation reactions with loss of electrons . With loss of electrons an element or compound is ready to accept electrons from a donor atom thus causing the reaction..life thus continuously endeavours to create active compounds or free radicals. Some of these free radicals are hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical,free oxygen radical,nitric acid and are responsible for driving most of life’s reactions.Free radical are however maximally produced in mitochondria in cells which act as sources and powerhouse. Mitochondria were originally free living bacteria which was captured by the eukaryotic cell and now acts in a symbiotic relationship. They have their own DNA which is responsible for their fission during cell mitosis. The free radicals produced during the lifetime...