Tree of lifeThe branches and leaves represent different tissues and stress conditions, including metabolic stress, inflammation, and environmental exposure. Although diverse, all branches originate from the same molecular foundation.
The trunk represents integration across biological levels. Changes at the protein level accumulate and influence cellular organisation, tissue structure, and function.
The roots represent fundamental molecular processes, such as protein stability, redox balance, and responses to oxidative stress.
These processes are not directly visible, but like a tree, biological systems carry a record of accumulated stress and adaptation. The tree therefore represents ageing as a long-term process shaped by protein oxidation.