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Abstract
The term ferroptosis was coined in 2012 to describe an iron-dependent regulated form
of cell death caused by the accumulation of lipid-based reactive oxygen species; this
type of cell death was found to have molecular characteristics distinct from other
forms of regulated cell death. Features of ferroptosis have been observed periodically
over the last several decades, but these molecular features were not recognized as
evidence of a distinct form of cell death until recently. Here, we describe the history
of observations consistent with the current definition of ferroptosis, as well as
the advances that contributed to the emergence of the concept of ferroptosis. We also
discuss recent implications and applications of manipulations of the ferroptotic death
pathway.