[dieselerator]

> Reactive Oxygen Species is also reportedly quite harmful but I guess everything has its place.

Yes, I think it does. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are generated as part of the metabolic pathway. That is in processes essential for life. Though the details of the biochemistry are beyond me, I recall Cytochrome c oxidase [1] produces H+ used to power ATP generation. Along the way it produces ROS. Of course there are other mechanisms for neutralizing the ROS. The point is ROS probably not something to get too agitated about.

[1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytochrome_c_oxidase>

[Terry_Roll]

When thinking about cell signalling and sensing, I wonder if a group of cells generate ROS to "nuke" a faulty cell, I say nuke because ROS will destroy surrounding healthy cells.

The problem with this theory, is its hard to see it working in anything other than a test tube!

Lets face its not like we can audit each and every cell, its contents and condition in a body is it!?!

Sure we can use some magnetic spin with some chemicals, or radioactice isotopes with others, but the sensing equipment is what holds us back with in vivo studies, so then its back to the patient provided metadata to form an opinion.