Magnetotactic

Classification

Higher order taxa:

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; unclassified Proteobacteria

Species:

Magnetococcus sp. MC-1, environmental samples. (source NCBI Taxonomy)

Description and Significance

Magnetococcus, also known as magnetotactic bacteria, are the smallest organisms that use a navigational method by using the earth's geomagnetic field to develop an internal compass. Magnetotactic bacteria were discovered in 1975 by Richard P. Blakemore when he noticed that some of the bacteria that he observed under the microscope always moved to the same side of the slide. These bacteria are able to move in a particular direction because they make tiny, iron-containing magnetic particles. Each of these particles is a magnet with a north pole and a south pole. The bacteria arrange these tiny magnets in a line to make one long magnet. They use this magnet as a compass to align themselves to the earth's geomagnetic field.