SEARCH FOR INFLUENCE OF 1.5-TESLA MAGNETIC-FIELD ON GROWTH OF YEAST-CELLS

We have used a clinical magnetic resonance imager to search for the po ssible effects of a 1.5 T magnetic fields on the growth of the yeast S accharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast samples were grown in nutrient broth co ntained in constant-temperature boxes, both in and out of the magnetic field of the imager. Growth was measured by using a hemocytometer and light microscope to calculate cell densities. Over the time span corr esponding to approximately seven cell divisions, we find no convincing statistical evidence for an effect of magnetic field on cell density. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.