Abstract
Following the stimulating suggestion by Herbert Fröhlich in 1968, oscillating electric fields are now found to be produced by living cells. These natural oscillating electric fields of cells at frequencies in the order of 30 Hz or higher are evidenced by:
-
(1)
direct instrumental detection and observation.
-
(2)
the use of tiny particulate probes of either very high or very low dielectric permittivity, together with knowledge about nonuniform field effects (dielectrophoresis, or DEP for short).
-
(3)
cellular spin resonance (CSR), the frequency-sensitive spinning of cells or small particles.
-
(4)
the observation that certain species of fish emit radio frequency signals in the range of 1 to 60 kHz. This emission can hardly be imagined to be other than cellular in origin.
-
(5)
the formation of rouleaux by red blood cells mediated by long-range interactions (up to 4 micrometers).
Two major conclusions emerge from these studies:
-
(I)
That natural ac oscillations appear to be “universal” in that they have been detected in all types of cells examined, and especially in those capable of reproduction.
-
(II)
The oscillations detected by DEP (mendtioned above) appear to be maximal at or near mitosis, at least in yeast, where the phase of the life cycle is most easily followed.
The role of these natural ac fields of living cells is yet to be determined. Still under continuing is the critical question as to whether they are essential or mere incidentals to cellular life.
Deceased June 23, 1986.
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Pohl, H.A., Phillips, W.T., Pollock, J.K. (1987). Evidence for AC Fields from Living Biological Cells. In: Barrett, T.W., Pohl, H.A. (eds) Energy Transfer Dynamics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71867-0_27
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