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PubMed · 2102547

Magnetotaxis.

H G Lins de Barros·D M Esquivel·M Farina
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Abstract

The ability of magnetotactic bacteria to orientate and navigate along geomagnetic lines is due to intracellular magnetic particles. These are enclosed within a membrane to form a magnetosome, a specialized organelle of magnetotactic organisms. The magnetic crystallite of many of the magnetotactic bacteria and algae is the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4) but recently a multicellular bacterial aggregate has been found to contain magnetic iron sulphide. Magnetotactic bacteria are found in regions of low oxygen pressure. Those of the Northern hemisphere are north-seeking while those of the Southern hemisphere are south-seeking. The opposite polarity of their internal magnets enables both types to travel to the deeper, less oxygenated, regions of their aqueous environments.

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Bacterial Physiological PhenomenaBiological EvolutionElectromagnetic FieldsFerrosoferric OxideHumansIronMagneticsOxidesJournal Article

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H G Lins de Barros, D M Esquivel, M Farina. 1990. Magnetotaxis.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2102547/

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