| MadSci Network: Microbiology |
This is a good question that sent me to the library to try to get some more information. Little detailed research on the effect of electromagnetic fields on the growth of algae has been done. The phenomemnon of "galvanotaxis" or the movement toward or away from a particular pole in a magnetic field has been described in several species of algae. In fact, the attraction to either the cathode (termed -ve) or the anode (+ve) seems to depend on the physiological state of the individual alga cell and on its enviroment (i.e., pH, amount of oxygen available, amount of light etc.). Apparently the same species of algae can show an attraction to either pole in a magnetic field dependent on these physiological and enviromental factors. I have found no information regarding how magnetic fields affect the number of algae cells in a culture. I know that you would like a definite answer to your question, but I congratulate you on doing some good independent research. Science is a process of observation, forming new hypotheses based on your observations, and then testing these new hypotheses. My advice would be to carefully set up your experiments such that the strength of the magnetic field is the only difference between your cultures and then to watch them carefully to see what happens. There is no right or wrong answer as to what effects you see if your experiment is well controlled. Hope this is of some help to you.
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