The oxidative damage/free radical theory was dealt another serious blow in 2009 by researchers working at the Oklahoma Medical Center. Arlan Richardson and Holly van Remmen tinkered with the genes of their laboratory mice so that they produced an overabundance of antioxidants that did a very good job of mopping up free radicals – but without any effect on the lifespan of the mice. They also did the reverse experiment, working with mice that had the genes for two of the most important antioxidants deleted from their DNA. Sure enough, the mice sustained extensive damage to their cells from free
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