Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Specialized compartments within cells carry out specific functions. Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library via Getty Images ...

While our cells are performing some important, basic functions, they can generate compounds known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). These include stuff like superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2).

Think back to that basic biology class you took in high school. You probably learned about organelles, those little “organs” inside cells that form compartments with individual functions. For example, ...