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The Effects of Neodymium Magnets on Brown Planaria

Scientists have used magnets to explore the biological processes of many living things. Biologists have utilized magnetic interference upon the navigational capability of birds (such as the homing pigeon) to better understand the various tools that avian creatures use for migration. Creatures from lobsters to cattle and even bacteria seem to be influenced by magnetism. Simple organisms, such as the brown planaria, show influence from the magnetic field strengths of neodymium magnets. Influences that could have important implications for medical science.

Brown Planaria
- Dugesia tigrina, the brown planria, is a freshwater flatworm. Several features make it a common choice for scientific study. Despite having a mouth that it uses to consume food, it has no internal gut or digestive system. It also lacks a circulatory or respiratory system. In addition to these oddities, the planaria has amazing regenerative capability. If severed in two, the organism will grow a new head and tail from each, producing two individual organisms. This ability makes the brown planaria of particular interest to medical science. Study of the planaria could lead to new treatments to allow people to regrow lost limbs or failing organs.
Effect upon Caudal Regeneration
- If a flatworm has its tail severed, it will develop a new one over the course of a couple of weeks. This process of recovering its posterior section is called "caudal regeneration" and the rate of growth can be measured fairly precisely by using laboratory apparatus. Under the influence of neodymium magnets, this caudal regenerative process appears to be retarded. In fact, as the magnetic intensity goes up, the process of regrowth appears to be slowed even more.
Effect Upon Cephalic Regeneration
- In planaria, cephalic regeneration is a name given to the process by which the creature spontaneously generates a new head when one has been severed from its body. In some studies, it has been observed that the growth of a new head can actually be stimulated by exposure to the magnetic field intensity level that a neodymium magnet produces. At higher magnetic field strengths it appears that the caudal regeneration process is stimulated even more.
Effect Upon Lunar Rhythm
- Planarians have a tendency to orient their bodies in a northward orientation during daylight hours and to veer their orientation either left with the new moon, or to the right with the full moon. Through studies, scientists have discovered that even minimal exposure to magnetic fields equivalent to those in a neodymium magnet can alter their ability to orient themselves. In the case of a field over 4 guass in strength, the process can take place in as little as 15 minutes.

Animals & Science