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Volume 14: Number 2: Article 3
Energy, Fitness, and Information-Augmented Electromagnetic Fields in
Drosophila melanogaster
Michael J. Kohane, Ditron LLC, P.O. Box 70, Excelsior, MN 55331
William A. Tiller, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Exposure of developing larvae to a few specific electromagnetic fields
(EMFs) and information-augmented EMFs modified (a) the expression of
larval development time, a genetically based trait relevant to development
and whole organism fitness, and (b) a measure of energy metabolism,
the [adenine triphosphate/adenine diphosphate] ([ATP]/[ADP]) ratio in
isofemale strains of Drosophila melanogaster. The study represents a
compilation of approximately 10,000 larvae and 7,000 adults counted.
The specific EM frequencies used in this study, 5.0, 7.3, 8.0, and 9.3
MHz at output power levels in the approximately 1 microwatt range, were
produced by two small electronic devices of physically identical nature,
but one was intentionally imprinted with specific information. Exposure
periods varied from 4 hours to one life cycle. Larval development time
was significantly shortened (approximately 10%) and the [ATP]/[ADP]
ratio significantly increased (approximately 30%) in a Faraday cage
without the EMFs compared to a Faraday cage with the specific EMFs.
The Faraday cage represents a shielded environment that facilitates
exposure to both fewer and specific electromagnetic frequencies. Larval
development time results for development in the laboratory environment,
which represents exposure to background EMFs of various frequencies,
were intermediate. The information-augmented EMFs also gave intermediate
results. Overall, there were no significant effects observed for the
other measured fitness components-third instar larval weight, adult
survival, and surviving adult weight. We discuss a thermodynamic model
to account for our results and general bioelectromagnetic effects and
attribute the change in development time to EMFs modifying electron
transport chain activity and the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio via the influence
of the EMF/magnetic vector potential upon electron availability and
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels.
Keywords: fitness experiments, [ATP]/[ADP] ratio, Faraday cages, information-augmented
and normal EMFs, theoretical models
FULL TEXT:
Energy, Fitness, and Information-Augmented Electromagnetic Fields in Drosophila melanogaster
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