Balancing the generation and elimination of reactive oxygen species

Rusty Rodriguez; Regina Redman

doi:10.1073/pnas.0500367102

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Balancing the generation and elimination of reactive oxygen species

Rusty Rodriguez·Regina Redman

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Abstract

Fossil records suggest that bacteria developed the ability to photosynthesize ≈3,500 million years ago (mya), initiating a very slow accumulation of atmospheric oxygen ( 1 ). Recent geochemical models suggest that atmospheric oxygen did not accumulate to levels conducive for aerobic life until 500–1,000 mya ( 2 , 3 ). The oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere resulted in the emergence of aerobic organisms followed by a great diversification of biological species and the eventual evolution of humans.

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Rusty Rodriguez, Regina Redman. 2005-02-22. Balancing the generation and elimination of reactive oxygen species. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0500367102

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