my pigeon GPS theory 💪😜
no one has cracked it so far why pigeon birds and other such animals manage to orientate themselves on the Earths surface and navigate with perfect accuracy, or why cows and other animals will always face a certain direction when eating or sleeping, or how insects navigate, it is my belief that its because pigeons and these other animals are following their gut instincts, more specifically their magnetically aligned beak/nose and gut instinct, i believe it is due to the build up of Magnetotactic bacteria (or MTB) which line their stomach and intestines, MTB are a polyphyletic group of bacteria discovered by Richard P. Blakemore in 1975, that orient along the magnetic field lines of Earth's magnetic field. To perform this task, these bacteria have organelles called magnetosomes that contain magnetic crystals. The biological phenomenon of microorganisms tending to move in response to the environment's magnetic characteristics is known as magnetotaxis (although this term is misleading in that every other application of the term taxis involves a stimulus-response mechanism). In contrast to the magnetoreception of animals, the bacteria contain fixed magnets that force the bacteria into alignment—even dead cells align, just like a compass needle. The alignment is believed to aid these organisms in reaching regions of optimal oxygen concentration. and given that is is found Magnetite-producing magnetotactic bacteria are usually found in an oxic-anoxic transition zone (OATZ), which as you know Anoxic waters are areas of sea water, fresh water, or groundwater that are depleted of dissolved oxygen, yet most biological matter is mostly made up of water which contains magnetosomes inside the bacterial cell. In the majority of MTB, the magnetosomes are aligned in chains of various lengths and numbers along the cell's long axis, which is magnetically the most efficient orientation, and that is what they are all "feeling", and it it can be found in in their beaks stomach and their digestive tracts, which when they are in their natural orientation will just "feel right", as they would be aligned with the Ears magnetosphere, Several clues led to the hypothesis that different genetic sets exist for the biomineralisation of magnetite and greigite. In cultures of Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum, iron can not be replaced with other transition metals (Ti, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Hg, Pb) commonly found in the soil. In a similar manner, oxygen and sulfur are not interchangeable as nonmetallic substances of the magnetosome within the same species.
From a thermodynamic point of view, in the presence of a neutral pH and a low redox potential, the inorganic synthesis of magnetite is favoured when compared to those of other iron oxides. It would thus appear microaerophilic or anaerobic conditions create a suitable potential for the formation of BMPs. Moreover, all iron absorbed by the bacteria is rapidly converted into magnetite, indicating the formation of crystals is not preceded by the accumulation of intermediate iron compounds; this also suggests the structures and the enzymes necessary for biomineralisation are already present within the bacteria. These conclusions are also supported by the fact that MTB cultured in aerobic conditions (and thus nonmagnetic) contain amounts of iron comparable to any other species of bacteria,
Diagram showing how magnetotactic bacteria use magnetotaxis to swim to the OATZ in the Northern versus the Southern Hemisphere on Earth
The OATZ is the part of the water column or sediment where oxygen concentrations are preferred by these bacteria. Dotted black lines show the direction that the bacterium swims. Solid black lines show the alignment of the magnetite nanoparticles with the Earths geomagnetic field. Blue circular arrows shows the rotation of the flagellum (clockwise or counterclockwise), which allows the bacterium to swim backward or forward within a water column. Oxygen and sulfur concentrations are also provided. Oxygen (O2) is in greater concentration at the top of the diagram, corresponding to the air-water interface. While the concentration of sulfur (S0) is greater at the bottom of the diagram, corresponding to some depth within the water column or sediment.
Blakemore (1975) first documented magnetotactic bacteria and found that the microorganisms synthesize chains of nano-sized magnetic particles that function as a compass needle. This "nano-compass" allows the microbe to passively orient itself in Earth's geomagnetic field (Figure 2). These magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized by a specific set of proteins that are contained within membrane-bound organelles called magnetosomes. Each bacterium contains 10–20 magnetosomes, each of which contains a magnetic nanoparticle. The magnetosomes are aligned in a chain-like fashion, which impart a magnetic dipole to the bacterial cell and allows the cells to "sense" Earth's geomagnetic field (Gorby et al. 1988). In addition to magnetosomes and magnetic nanoparticles, magnetotactic bacteria also have a flagellum, which they use for mobility.
Note the chain of twelve magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles that are arranged along the long axis of the cell. The magnetic magnetite chain allows the organism to behave as a tiny motile compass needle. Scale bar is provided in the lower right corner.
whats even more impressive than these naturally occurring GPS systems that are furry and feathered, scaled and squishy friends have being using all along right under our noses, the fact that we can actively steer these micro bacteria, we could put actually nano bubbles on their backs and direct them to parts within the body that require immediate attention, as this video shows they can be manipulated in any direction to deliver and medication/cure right to the effected areas,
watch the following videos for a couple of basic principles and information about Magnetotactic bacteria and then a few more in depth amazing videos
