Grossman explains: «One theory that we are exploring is that under heat - stress conditions the corals eject the algal symbionts at night in order to avoid the production and accumulation of photosynthetically - derived
toxic oxygen molecules during the day.
This is surprising since it means that
toxic oxygen molecules formed in heat - damaged chloroplasts during photosynthetic reactions during the light are likely not the major culprits that cause bleaching.
Not exact matches
It has been theorized that the major cause of bleaching is the result of chloroplast damage due to heat stress, which results in the production of
toxic, highly reactive
oxygen molecules during photosynthesis.
The radiation triggers a shower of reactive
oxygen compounds which are
toxic to all sorts of parts of the cell: «Proteins, lipids, they chew up any biological
molecule,» Lin said.
carbon monoxide A
toxic gas whose
molecules include one carbon atom and one
oxygen atom.
Many people believe that free radicals, the sometimes -
toxic molecules produced by our bodies as we process
oxygen, are the culprit behind aging.
Vitamin E - Found in almonds, wheat germ oil, peanuts and turnip greens, E is an antioxidant which neutralizes free radicals, the
toxic oxygen - based
molecules that damage cells and can lead to cancer.