EMF Evidence Library
Research library/Cells & mechanisms/WEB-035
WEB-035Original abstract reviewed

18 GHz: bacterial uptake of externally supplied DNA

Perera et al. · 2024 · Nano letters

The reported finding

Approximately 90.7% of treated viable bacteria expressed the plasmid-associated fluorescence, supporting successful genetic transformation.

Reading it carefully

Original abstract only; full methods and thermal comparisons not audited. Externally supplied plasmid uptake is not mutation, DNA damage or demonstrated harm. Laboratory intensities cannot be equated with satellite reception.

Inside the study

Technology connection
18 GHz overlaps frequencies used for some satellite links. This is a laboratory membrane experiment, with different intensity, geometry and waveform from satellite exposure.
Publication type
Original journal research
Exposure conditions
18 GHz; 5.6–30 kW/m² for 180 s; temperatures 30–40°C.
Design & controls
E. coli JM109 supplied with pGLO plasmid; fluorescence, flow cytometry and cryogenic electron microscopy.
Statistics
See the original results; effect sizes were not independently recalculated.
Related research & shared cohorts
RMIT/Swinburne membrane programme; distinct experiment from the PC12 localisation study. Related publication records: WEB-034, WEB-036.
The protection question raised
Which exposure conditions reproduce this finding, and what would establish its relevance beyond the experimental model?
Source verification
Original abstract and bibliographic identity reviewed; full methods, dosimetry and statistics not audited.
Where to find the result
Original abstract
Editorial notices
Linked Europe PMC/PubMed notice fields checked 21 October 2026; no correction/retraction surfaced for this record. Publisher/citation screening is not exhaustive.
Funding
Not established from the retrieved original abstract.
Conflicts of interest
Not established from the retrieved original abstract.

Original publication

Palalle G Tharushi Perera; Denver P Linklater; Zoltan Vilagosh; The Hong Phong Nguyen; Eric Hanssen; Sergey Rubanov; Steve Wanjara; Bari Aadum; Rebecca Alfred; Chaitali Dekiwadia; Saulius Juodkazis; Rodney Croft; Elena P Ivanova. Genetic Transformation of Plasmid DNA into Escherichia coli Using High Frequency Electromagnetic Energy. Nano letters. 2024. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03464.

Plain-text record