Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: smart on 20/06/2016 23:12:50

Title: Is plant growth affected by microwave radiation?
Post by: smart on 20/06/2016 23:12:50
Does non-ionizing (microwave) radiation affect plant growth ? A report suggested that non-ionizing radiation is absorbed by plants and affect mRNA expression:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633881/

Title: Re: Is plant growth affected by microwave radiation?
Post by: Benalla-Florist on 03/09/2016 09:54:11
I am waiting for an answer too.
Title: Re: Is plant growth affected by microwave radiation?
Post by: evan_au on 04/09/2016 22:48:49
Today I microwaved carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

After 2 minutes in the microwave, I can assure you that they are incapable of further growth.
After I ate them, they are truly incapable of further growth!

But the OP is probably not about cooking.

Welll, tk, what is the question about? Please clarify.
Title: Re: Is plant growth affected by microwave radiation?
Post by: smart on 04/09/2016 23:20:07
Quote from: evan_au on 04/09/2016 22:48:49
Today I microwaved carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

After 2 minutes in the microwave, I can assure you that they are incapable of further growth.
After I ate them, they are truly incapable of further growth!

But the OP is probably not about cooking.

Welll, tk, what is the question about? Please clarify.

Since it is likely that non-ionizing radiation can affect plant growth and metabolism, could microwaves alter gene expression?
Title: Re: Is plant growth affected by microwave radiation?
Post by: evan_au on 05/09/2016 12:31:39
Microwaves operate by increasing the temperature of water in cells.

All the enzymes in a warm-blooded mammal like ourselves have a fairly restricted range of operating temperature, and so all our enzymes start to malfunction as temperature rises. Running a fever of 4 degrees Celsius is pretty serious!

There is a group of proteins called "Heat Shock Proteins" whose gene expression is increased at higher temperatures (and under other adverse conditions). But rather than this being caused directly by the microwaves, this is your body's generalized response to protect itself from the adverse conditions.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_shock_protein