Bacteria discovered with magnetic nanosensors
21 November 2005
by Richard
Conan-Davies
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Bacteria have been known to be able to align themselves with magnetic fields but now scientists from Germany have discovered the molecular details of this ability. Magnetotactic bacteria common in the mud of marine environments. In their cell interior, things called magnetosomes are aligned into a chain. The bacteria use them to distinguish "up" from "down" in the Earth's magnetic field, This helps them find the best growing conditions. These magnetosomes are made of tiny crystals of the magnetic iron mineral magnetite (Fe3O4). The scientists have discovered that these magnetosomes actually need to line up like beads on a string in order for them to act like a compass to help them detect north-south. This was discovered by marking the magnetosomes with flourscent dyes that showed up in microscope images. |
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