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. 1997 Aug;73(2):1130–1133. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(97)78145-1

Stable magnetic field gradient levitation of Xenopus laevis: toward low-gravity simulation.

J M Valles Jr 1, K Lin 1, J M Denegre 1, K L Mowry 1
PMCID: PMC1181009  PMID: 9251829

Abstract

We have levitated, for the first time, living biological specimens, embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis, using a large inhomogeneous magnetic field. The magnetic field/field gradient product required for levitation was 1430 kG2/cm, consistent with the embryo's susceptibility being dominated by the diamagnetism of water and protein. We show that unlike any other earth-based technique, magnetic field gradient levitation of embryos reduces the body forces and gravity-induced stresses on them. We discuss the use of large inhomogeneous magnetic fields as a probe for gravitationally sensitive phenomena in biological specimens.

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Selected References

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