Author(s)

Ronald L. Huston

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA.

This is a review of recent literature concerning electromagnetic effects on cellular mechanics. “Recent” refers primarily to papers published in this (the 21st) century. The review shows that there are relatively few papers on cellular electromagnetics as compared with those on proteins, biochemistry, and cellular anatomy. The principal finding of the reviewed papers is that cellular electromagnetic fields appear to arise from longitudinal vibrations of the filaments making up the walls of the microtubules. Microtubules are long hollow cylinders which form the overall structure of the centrioles. The microtubules, and therefore the centrioles themselves, are arranged in nine sets of parallel blades with each blade having three microtubules. The centrioles occur in pairs perpendicularly to each other. During mitosis (cell division) the centriole pair becomes two pair which then separate and divide the cell into two. It seems that electromagnetic forces play a central role in this division. Electromagnetic activity in wound healing and in the imaging and treatment of tumors is discussed.

Centrioles, Microtubules, Cellular Electromagnetism, Cancer

L. Huston, R. (2016) A Review of Electromagnetic Activity in Cellular Mechanics. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 7, 360-371. doi: 10.4236/abb.2016.79035.