Magnetotaxis

Abstract

The ability of magnetotactic bacteria to orientate and navigate along geomagnetic lines is due to intracellular magnetic particles. These are enclosed within a membrane to form a magnetosome, a specialized organelle of magnetotactic organisms. The magnetic crystallite of many of the magnetotactic bacteria and algae is the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4) but recently a multicellular bacterial aggregate has been found to contain magnetic iron sulphide. Magnetotactic bacteria are found in regions of low oxygen pressure. Those of the Northern hemisphere are north-seeking while those of the Southern hemisphere are south-seeking. The opposite polarity of their internal magnets enables both types to travel to the deeper, less oxygenated, regions of their aqueous environments.