Trystan Casey
Electric bacteria, such as Shewanella and Geobacter, have been found to eat and breathe electricity, producing hair-like filaments that act as wires, ferrying electrons back and forth between cells. These electric signals are a fundamental aspect of biological systems, with bioelectromagnetic fields playing a role in intercellular and organism-level communication. Electric potential is present in all cell types and is integral to their normal function, driving processes such as respiration and cell migration. This has sparked interest in the artistic community, with performers and composers using biosignals to produce and control sound. The discovery of these electric bacteria has also opened up new avenues for research, with potential applications in medicine and technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric life forms | Electric bacteria, including Shewanella and Geobacter |
| How electric bacteria work | They eat and excrete electricity, harvesting electrons from rocks and metals |
| Electric bacteria applications | NASA is interested in these organisms as they survive on very little energy, which may suggest modes of life in other parts of the solar system |
| Bioelectric signaling | Bioelectricity is a regulator of development and regeneration, and it plays a role in cell migration, tissue regeneration, and cell-cell communication |
| Biosignals | Can be electrical or non-electrical, such as mechanical, acoustic, chemical, or optical signals |
| Electric impulses | Allow quick communication between cells that work together for the survival of the whole organism |
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What You'll Learn
Electric bacteria
One notable characteristic of electric bacteria is their ability to form hair-like filaments, called microbial nanowires, which act as wires to transport electrons. These nanowires can be several centimetres long and allow the bacteria to connect with their environment and other bacteria. The electrons transported by the nanowires can create a small electrical current, which has potential applications as a clean energy source.
A recent discovery of a new species of electric bacteria, Candidatus Electrothrix yaqonensis, found in Oregon, has further expanded our understanding of these organisms. This species, a type of cable bacteria, has a unique morphology and genetic structure, with a nickel-centred metal complex that functions as a biological wire, efficiently conducting electrons.
The study of electric bacteria and their ability to generate electricity from thin air holds great potential for future innovations in medicine, technology, and energy production.
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Bioelectric fields
Bioelectricity, or bioelectric potentials, refers to the electric currents and potentials produced by or occurring within living organisms. These electric potentials are generated by various biological processes and can range in strength from one to a few hundred millivolts. The study of bioelectricity dates back to ancient times, with the knowledge of electric fishes like the Nile catfish and electric eel. However, it was the experiments of Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta in the 18th century that paved the way for our understanding of the connection between electricity and muscle contraction in animals, leading to advancements in physics and physiology.
In modern times, the measurement of bioelectric potentials has become routine in clinical medicine, particularly for diagnostic purposes. For example, electrical effects originating in active cells of the heart and brain are commonly monitored and analysed. These bioelectric currents are typically composed of a flow of ions, or electrically charged atoms or molecules, rather than the movement of electrons seen in lighting or power sources.
Furthermore, developmental bioelectricity is a critical aspect of embryonic development in both animals and plants, influencing cell, tissue, and organ-level patterning and behaviour. Ions, rather than electrons, act as charge carriers in this context, generating electric currents and fields that facilitate communication between cells.
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Bioelectric signalling
The concept of bioelectric signalling is deeply connected to the electrical property of life. It was discovered by Volta and Galvani in the late 18th century. Bioelectrical signals refer to electrical signals generated by cells with excitability, such as nerve, heart, and muscle cells. These signals are crucial for information processing in the nervous system and for the mechanical work of the heart and muscles. The electrical potential in cells is a result of the differential partitioning of ions across membranes, and this potential correlates with cell behaviour and tissue organisation.
The study of bioelectric signalling has led to exciting discoveries about the hidden microbial world. Electric bacteria, such as Shewanella and Geobacter, have been found to utilise electricity as their energy source, harvesting electrons from rocks and metals. These bacteria can form daisy chains, using hair-like filaments to ferry electrons over significant distances, allowing them to access oxygen in their environment.
In clinical practice, bioelectrical signals are recorded by attaching electrodes to the body surface. Techniques like electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG), and electromyography (EMG) are used to measure electrical activity in the brain, heart, and muscles, respectively. These methods have diagnostic and research applications, providing valuable insights into the electrical dynamics of the human body.
Bioelectromagnetic signalling, encompassing the generation, reception, and roles of electromagnetic fields in living organisms, is an emerging field that holds promise for future advancements in medicine and technology.
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Biosignals
The term 'biosignal' refers to any signal in living beings that can be continually measured and monitored. While the term is often used to refer to bioelectrical signals, it may also refer to non-electrical signals such as mechanical, acoustic, chemical, and optical signals.
The study of biosignals, or bioelectricity, is an intriguing field that explores the electrical property of life. Since the late 18th century, when Volta and Galvani discovered electrical properties innate to biological systems, scientists have been captivated by the electrical nature of life. Bioelectromagnetic signaling has gained increasing attention in recent years, with researchers exploring its generation, reception, and roles in living organisms.
Electricity-based life forms, or 'electric bacteria', have been discovered to use electricity in its purest form. These bacteria harvest electrons from rocks, metals, and electrodes, essentially eating and excreting electricity. Electric bacteria come in various shapes and sizes, and some produce hair-like filaments called microbial nanowires that act as wires, facilitating the transfer of electrons between cells and their environment.
The discovery of these electric bacteria has revealed a hidden microbial world, with researchers finding numerous types, distinct from previously known electric bacteria such as Shewanella and Geobacter. These bacteria have important implications for understanding life in extreme environments, such as deep underground, and even in other parts of the solar system.
Furthermore, bioelectric signaling plays a crucial role in development and regeneration. Electrical potential is intrinsic to the normal function of all cells, organelles, and molecules, influencing properties such as respiration, pH, and cell communication. Experimental modulation of electrical potential can have complex effects, making it challenging to fully understand the role of bioelectricity in development. However, the bioelectric code model suggests that bioelectricity provides instructional and permissive signals for developmental fate decisions through regional control.
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Electric impulses
Bioelectromagnetic signalling, a key aspect of biology, involves the generation, reception, and roles of bioelectromagnetic fields in living organisms. Electric bacteria, such as Shewanella and Geobacter, have been found to utilise electricity directly, "eating" and "breathing" electrons from rocks, metals, and electrodes. These bacteria produce hair-like filaments, known as microbial nanowires, that facilitate the transfer of electrons between cells and their environment.
In more complex organisms, electric impulses enable rapid communication between cells, ensuring the survival of the whole organism. The neural system, a relatively recent evolutionary development, allows multicellular organisms to integrate environmental stimuli and respond swiftly. This advantage over unicellular organisms, which do not require such rapid communication, has led to the widespread adoption of nerve-mediated intracellular communication.
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling is an example of a paracrine and intracellular signal. It triggers a cascade of events, including the activation of Adenylate Cyclase and the release of IP3 and calcium ions, resulting in cytoskeletal changes. Electrically coupled cells can form functional units that facilitate regionally bounded, non-cell-autonomous developmental signalling. Additionally, the interaction between tubulin and voltage-dependent anion channels, as well as the influence of magnetic fields on microtubule structure, further highlight the intricate relationship between electricity and biology.
The study of bioelectric signalling has broad implications for medicine and technology. By understanding the regulatory role of bioelectricity in development and regeneration, researchers can deepen our comprehension of life's electromagnetic dimensions and potentially revolutionise various fields.
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Frequently asked questions
Biosignals are any signals in living beings that can be continually measured and monitored. The term biosignal often refers to bioelectrical signals, but it may also refer to non-electrical signals such as mechanical, acoustic, chemical, and optical signals.
Some well-known bioelectrical signals include EEG, ECG, EOG, and EMG, which are measured using electrodes attached to the skin. These signals are produced by the change in electric current across specialized tissues, organs, or cell systems, such as the nervous system.
Bioelectricity plays a unique role in regulating development and regeneration. Experimental evidence suggests that bioelectric cues orchestrate development and regeneration by influencing cell behavior, tissue organization, and cell-to-cell communication. The balance between conductive and non-conductive signaling channels is essential, and disruptions can lead to developmental disorders.
