A.G. Gurwitsch and G.M. Frank, pioneers of research on ultraweak luminescence of biological systems: touches to scientific biographies and results of work in the field of mitogenetic radiation

Abstract

This talk is dedicated to the memory of two outstanding scientists, A.G. Gurwitsch and G.M. Frank, who happened to be at the origin of vast areas of science: ultraweak photon emission from biological systems, biophotonics, biochemiluminescence (surprisingly, but also true).

The first step in all this was discovery of the so-called mitogenetic effect (MGE), acceleration of cell divisions in microbe and cell cultures, and tissues, caused by distant (optical) contact with certain biological and chemical systems. Discovered by Gurwitsch in 1923, MGE was further investigated in the USSR, the USA, Germany, Italy, France, and other countries in over a thousand publications, including top-rating journals. Yet, a number of influential authors failed to reproduce it in their works, leaving the whole topic in a questioning state.

Logically the next step was introducing the term “mitogenetic radiation” (MGR) as the source of MGE, first suggested very soon after. It was based on important physical works by Frank, Gurwitwch et al., and further investigated by Audubert, Barth, Peukert, etc.

Here we critically review the main methodical aspects of both “positive” and “negative” works on MGE/MGR and try to state recommendations to reproducibly detect it (though only try).

We consider MGE/MGR an unresolved problem in both fundamental and applied biology], that should be revisited with the use of present-day techniques, knowledge and level of evidence. Anyway, further progress in this area is impossible without rigorous investigation of earlier works with a particular focus on methods and evidence.

Speaker

Ilya Volodyaev
Moscow State University
Russia

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