Single Magnetic Domains in Magnetotactic Bacteria

Richard B. Frankel, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Jin-Ping Zhang, University of California - Santa Barbara
Dennis A. Bazylinski, Iowa State University

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An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright © 1998 American Geophysical Union. Further reproduction or electronic distribution is not permitted. The definitive version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/97JB03512.

Abstract

Magnetotactic bacteria construct an internal, permanent magnetic dipole based on single magnetic domain particles of magnetite or greigite. The organisms exert a high degree of control over the size and morphology of the particles. This may be relevant in distinguishing biogenic from nonbiogenic iron mineral particles.