"Magnetic Cells" Isolated For First Time

sciencehabit writes "For the first time, researchers have isolated magnetic cells in an animal. The cells--found in this case in rainbow trout--may help the fish respond to Earth's magnetic fields, allowing it to find its way home after spending 3 years at sea and traveling up to 300 kilometers away. The advance may help researchers get to the root of magnetic sensing in a variety of creatures, including birds."

Comments

In Humans

[Anonymous Coward]

My brother-in-law, Big Ed, has a metal plate in his head from when he was kicked by a mule, and he can tell the difference between Miller and Miller Light without looking at the labels. Also he has a magnetic memory.

Re:In Humans

[PopeRatzo]

My brother-in-law, Big Ed, has a metal plate in his head from when he was kicked by a mule

That's nothing. I've got an uncle with a wooden leg and an aunt with a cedar chest.

Re:What about Cryptochrome?

[ljw1004]

Your second link says "Despite decades of study, the physical basis of the avian magnetic sense remains elusive". It goes on to say that one hypothesis is magnetite, and another hypothesis is the generation of radical pairs inside cryptochrome, but this wasn't confirmed since no atomic-resolution structure of cryptochrome has yet been produced.

The article says that individual cells have been isolated which operate on magnetite. So it looks like it (1) is the first time there's been an actual confirmed result, and (2) it contradicts the cryptochrome hypothesis.

But I know nothing about this field. I'm merely reading the linked articles.

I could have told them that.

[trout007]

We trouts have an excellent sense of direction.

Re:I could have told them that.

[bill_mcgonigle]

Yes, but how many of them have a license to gill?