The ________ of aging suggests that oxygen molecules that have an unstable electron cause damage to the structure of cells, increasing with age.
A) wear-and-tear theory
B) cellular clock theory
C) disengagement theory
D) free radical theory

Question

The ________ of aging suggests that oxygen molecules that have an unstable electron cause damage to the structure of cells, increasing with age.
A) wear-and-tear theory
B) cellular clock theory 
C) disengagement theory
D) free radical theory

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches the free radical theory of aging, which states that free radicals, specifically oxygen molecules with unstable electrons, cause damage to cells and tissues, leading to aging and age-related diseases. The wear-and-tear theory suggests that the body just wears out over time, the cellular clock theory proposes that cells can only replicate a certain number of times before aging and dying, and the disengagement theory focuses on social disengagement in later life.

The ________ of Aging Suggests That Oxygen Molecules That Have