Static and 50 Hz magnetic fields of 0.35 and 2.45 mT have no effect on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The present work reports the growth effects induced by static and sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic fields (MF) on the haploid yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae WS8105-1C. Magnetic fields were generated by a pair of Helmholtz coils (40 cm in diameter) with 154 turns of copper wire in each and separated 20 cm. The experiments were performed at 0.35 and 2.45 mT, and yeasts were exposed to MF during 24 and 72 It in the homogeneous field area. Growth was monitored by measuring the optical density at 600 nm. The data presented in the current report indicate that static and sinusoidal 50 Hz MF (0.35 and 2.45 mT) do not induce alterations in the growth of S. cerevisiae. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.