Biomagnetism describes the biological origin of magnetism within living organisms. This phenomenon occurs due to the formation of iron-based minerals that exhibit magnetic ordering at room temperature. Perhaps the most studied form of biomagnetism originates in bacteria, especially magnetotactic bacteria that produce internal magnetite and greigite grains and iron-reducing bacteria that produce magnetite nanoparticles externally as a byproduct of iron respiration. These bacteria likely contribute to a significant proportion of environmental magnetite. The emergence of biomagnetism remains unclear, although it is thought that magnetotactic bacteria evolved this mechanism several billion years ago. Understanding how and why micro-organisms generate biomagnetism is helping to shed light on the origin of life on Earth and potentially on other planets. Biomagnetism is also of broad interest to industrial and environmental applications.
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Research Article|
August 01, 2023
Biomagnetism: Insights Into Magnetic Minerals Produced by Microorganisms
James M. Byrne;
School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
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Matthieu Amor
Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon : Terre, Planètes, Environnement, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d’Italie, 69007 Lyon, France
E-mail: [email protected]
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School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America
First Online:
06 Nov 2023
Online ISSN: 1811-5217
Print ISSN: 1811-5209
Copyright © 2023 by the Mineralogical Society of America
Mineralogical Society of America
Elements (2023) 19 (4): 208–214.
Article history
First Online:
06 Nov 2023
Citation
James M. Byrne, Matthieu Amor; Biomagnetism: Insights Into Magnetic Minerals Produced by Microorganisms. Elements 2023;; 19 (4): 208–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/gselements.19.4.208
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- agglomerate
- biochemistry
- biomineralization
- degradation
- Geobacter
- geochemical cycle
- greigite
- iron
- magnetic minerals
- magnetite
- magnetization
- magnetotactic taxa
- mechanism
- metals
- microorganisms
- mineralization
- nanoparticles
- oxides
- paleomagnetism
- scanning electron microscopy
- sedimentary rocks
- sulfides
- iron cycle
- Bacteria
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