NSF Award
9206390
Sharks, rays and skates are able to detect extremely weak electromagnetic fields and use this sense to capture their prey, since all living animals produce natural electric fields. Sharks also use this ability for navigation in the open seas by using the earth's magnetic field as a frame of reference. These special organs which act as "ears" for sensing weak electromagnetic fields are long, jelly-filled tubes within the sharks's bodies. Although these organs have been studied for years, little attention has been given to the jelly, itself, and it has usually been considered to be a filler substance without much importance. The major objective of this research is to test the idea that the jelly material in the shark organs plays a major role in their ability to detect electromagnetic fields. If this notion is correct, a better understanding of how sharks detect their prey is anticipated. Furthermore, the results of these studies may be important for human health concerns in relation to the controversy about whether high-voltage power lines may cause cancer in nearby residents. If this suspicion is correct, it would suggest that certain molecules or cells in the human body are sensitive to electric or magnetic fields. A better understanding of how the shark organ jelly responds to electromagnetic fields may provide clues into the ways in which such fields may affect humans.
