Characterizing the Effect of Static Magnetic Fields on Worm Parasites

 

This study uses the model organism, C. elegans, to investigate its sensitivity and response to static magnetic fields. Wild-type C. elegans are put into microfluidic channels and exposed to permanent magnets for five cycles of thirty-second time intervals at field strengths ranging from 5 milli Tesla to 120 milli Tesla. Recorded and analyzed with custom software, the results of the worm's movement - the average velocity, turning and curling percentage - were compared to control experiments. Surprisingly, the results did not show any significant difference, indicating that C. elegans may not be able to sense static magnetic fields at the range of field strengths tested.