The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on gene expression and early development has been investigated in two different transgenic animals, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, respectively. ELF-EMF enhanced biological reactions considerably in the presence of a second stressor (mild heat shock). In C. elegans, this effect could be demonstrated at the level of heat shock protein (hsp) gene expression by means of a lacZ reporter gene controlled by an hsp 16 or hsp 70 promoter. In Drosophila, the same experimental strategy led to ELF-EMF induced developmental defects, as well as to a considerable retardation of development. The findings are discussed with respect to possi- ble molecular mechanisms that might explain the observed synergistic ELF-EMF induced enhancement of the stress response. An experimental approach is suggested which may help to unravel the involved signal transduction pathways.
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Herwig O. Gutzeit (2001) studied this question.