Mitochondria can and do 'see' our world.
The effects of electromagnetic radiation (EM) on the bodies of animals and their cells has been investigated
and studied for over a century. From low frequencies to high, the penetration and absorption of EM radiation
in tissues has been of potential concern. This is more so now that we are not only ‘bathed’ in the traditional
frequencies of EM from the slow pulses of the geo-magnetic earth itself and the light from the sun but to the all
pervasive microwave waves of the connected world.
The focus of interest has been, firstly one of penetration, ie how deep into tissue the EM goes and secondly one of absorption/blocking: does the EM just cause heat ( molecules vibrate more) or does it cause damage (molecules suffer broken bonds)? For example we know about skin damage from UV light radiation, tissue damage from X rays and the heating effects of microwaves in a microwave oven. So from our perspective of investigation we have EM categorised into: block; reflect and absorb with heat and damage being the salient associated words that link with the EM that surrounds us.
This post though is not about the long list of research findings from the above, it is about the interaction of environmental EM with mitochondria. Why mitochondria? Because, if you have chanced upon these posts before you will know that I regard mitochondria principally as electrical devices; specifically oscillating organic capacitors that use stored charge as the electromotive force to drive biosynthesis.
To an electronic engineer a device of this ilk that holds charge, a charge which varies in magnitude, amplitude and period, is something to be reckoned with. It has an oscillating electromagnetic field so it will inevitably be subject to interaction with EM radiation in complex ways. Terms like field induction, tuned resonances, field switching and so on familiar to the engineer will apply to mitochondria.
Mitochondria are known to interact with penetrating EM radiation at a variety of frequencies.
These are:
Fields in the 1–8 Hz range have been shown to induce mitophagy (removal of damaged mitochondria) and promote rejuvenation, influencing the electron transport chain (ETC). the Schumann Resonance at approximately 7.83 Hz, and higher harmonics at around 14.3 Hz, 20.8 Hz, 27.3 Hz;
An oscillation period of 25 kHz is shown for superoxide;
Some models suggest cells, including mitochondria, might have resonant frequencies in the 10–30 kHz and 150–180 kHz ranges, though these are less studied.
~125 Hz:
Linked to increased mitochondrial numbers, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS), and changes in
nerve size in some tissues;
~250 Hz: A prominent resonant frequency affecting peripheral nerves, leading to inflammation and injury indicators,
and potentially influencing mitochondria indirectly.
120THz Black Light NIR therapy, absorbed by mitochondria in the 800nm wavelengths
All of the above frequencies are of penetrating EM radiation and its interactions with mitochondria are well documented. Of particular note is the fact that the low frequencies and the high NIR frequency both have their origins in the earth's diurnal rhythms.
The nature of the mitochondrion has been on a steady journey in the last 50 years.
Lynn Margolis’ persistence and brave insight liberated the mitochondrion from being an
innate structure of the eukaryote cell to that of a once free living organism to now a symbiont working with the cell.
Even so the mitochondrion’s paucity of genetic material kept it in its place subservient to the nucleus’ control.
Even that has changed as the mitochondrion’s ability to retrograde signal with its outsourced nuclear genes has
become apparent.
Finally, on this journey, i would like to point out that the mitochondrion is not incarcerated,
blind to the outside world. To us we look solid as visible light bounces off our skins but penetrating EM
does not suffer this illusion. Mitochondria within the body can ‘see’ the environment and due to their electrical
nature they can and do interact with it.
Time to rest, the sun is setting and my mitochondria are signalling time to sleep.
