These 17 papers, including summaries, examine the latest research on the free radical theory of aging and oxidative biochemistry. Contributors describe the basics, then delineate the role of oxidative stress with different model systems, including retrograde response to oxidative stress and cellular senescence and oxidative stress in filamentous fungus, budding yeast, nematode, drosophila and the mouse. A very interesting article takes the comparative approach to mitochondrial free radical production and calorie restriction, and others describe oxidative stress in disease such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiac ischemia and cardiovascular disease. The articles on future research topics describe reactive oxygen species and signaling molecules along with other current projects. Includes full references and index. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)