Effect of super high magnetic field on the growth ofEscherichia coli

Summary Auxotrophic mutants ofEscherichia coli were grown under the super high magnetic field (11.7 Tesla) and the effect of the field both on the growth and mutation frequency of the bacteria was investigated. When the bacteria were cultivated in complex media, the growth was stimulated under 11.7T in comparison with that in geomagnetic field. When the bacteria were grown in synthetic media, the growth rates were reduced significantly. Neither mutagenic nor lethal effects of the magnetic field on the bacteria was observed. A potential application of high magnetic strength as a controlling factor of the bacterial growth was implied.