Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
cell nuclei or proteins within membranes help explain window
observations of Adey at low levels of extremely-low-frequency
(ELF) exposure, significantly below international standards of
exposure limits. The physical mechanism is the EM excitation of a
dipole, similar to SFT's dipole-dipole gravitational interaction. Both
physical mechanism and its biophysical analogue support Adey's
window effects in embryoniccolonies.
4.1 Introduction
Diffusion of charged and dipolar particles is intimately involved in a
widerangeofbiologicalprocesses.Ionsandproteinsamongstother
biological components have long been known to diffuse. In many
cases, present knowledge is incomplete, yet enough is known to
describe the basic mechanisms behind biogenic division, which we
investigateseparatelyinChapter5.Figure4.1depictsfourexamples
of effects due to static electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields where
ion or protein diffusion (or diffusion of both) is involved. Figure
4.1a shows a shark electrosensitive to weak E fields, 0.5-1
μ
Vm
−
1
,
emitted as ion currents by prey and magnetosensitive to the local
geomagnetic field (LGF) via larger E fields, 5-50
μ
Vm
−
1
,induced
by the flow of ions in ocean currents. Figure 4.1b shows a
spirillus
alga, a single-celled creature that moves north-south along the LGF,
possessing its own biogenic magnetite crystals. It is known there is
an induced torque on the magnetosomes, membranous structures
containing the crystals imbedded in the creature. Torque is induced
bytheHfieldnearthecrystalsandthealgalmotion.Whatroleionic
currents may play in magnetotaxis is unknown. Self-field theory's
(SFT) photonic theory is consistent with the earth's magnetic flips
and the direction (north and south) of these magnetically sensitive
motions. These flips of the sun and earth are a form of the cascades
seen in chemical and biochemical reactions. These flips are a form
of photonic structural change that occurs as the photon changes its
energy state.
Figure 4.1c shows a membrane interfacing a cell surface.
Ionic concentrations inside and external to the cell are controlled
by the permeability of the membrane to various ion species
